Worcester, MA- After taking down University of Southern Maine up north just three days ago by a 6-3 score, the Lancers women's hockey team hosted the Huskies in Worcester this afternoon looking to complete a sweep of the home-and-away series. Unfortunately, it seemed Southern Maine had other plans. 

Neither team was able to crack the scoreboard in the first period, despite both teams having time on the man advantage. Senior Amber Lee (Fairlawn, NJ) had a big first period between the pipes, totaling 16 saves in the opening 20 minutes including a few key stops on second-chance and breakaway opportunities for the Huskies. 

Penalties would prove to play a key role throughout the remainder of the contest, with the two squads racking up a staggering 11 combined minors. The first goal of the game would come on a Southern Maine powerplay just minutes into the second, as the Huskies took a 1-0 lead that they would expand on in the final five minutes of the period to make the score 2-0 Southern Maine heading into the second intermission. 

The Lancers would finally get one to go with under five minutes left in the third on a goal by junior Sydney Vautour (South Hamilton, Mass.), but it proved to be too little too late. Southern Maine held strong as the Lancers pulled their goalie on a last-ditch effort as time dwindled to capture a 2-1 Huskey victory. 

Southern Maine University comes out of the Tuesday matinee with a 7-8 record. Worcester State, now 8-6 on the season, will look to bounce back a week from today on Jan. 17 at 6:30 p.m. They'll host Anna Maria in their first conference game of the 2022-23 campaign.