Worcester, Mass. - The Lancers and Greyhounds clashed Friday afternoon in the ECHA Semifinals at the Worcester Ice Center. In front of a lively crowd full of chants and cheers, the Lancers' conquest for back-to-back ECHA titles began with an offensive thriller over the Greyhounds.
FINAL SCORE: Worcester St 6, Assumption 0
A quiet first period saw the Lancers lead on puck possession while recording twelve shots in comparison to Assumption's single attempt. The rink began to fire up as Worcester State found themselves on the board early in the second with a pass from senior forward Shelby Reaugh (Raleigh, N.C.) to sophomore forward Kiersten Erickson (Broomfield, CO.) to put the Lancers up 1-0. After a series of shots saved by Assumption keeper Kaitlyn Oatley, Worcester extended their lead by a connection from junior forward Ellen Cook (Becket, Mass.) and senior forward Cassidhe Wozniak (Turners Falls, Mass.) to senior forward Katie Puumala (Framingham, Mass.) eleven minutes in, followed by two more unanswered goals in just over a minute of playing time from junior forward Amy MacGlashing (Marlborough, Mass.) and Wozniak 26 seconds after. Worcester State found themselves with a commanding 4-0 lead heading into the start of the third period.
It would not be long into the third for Worcester to further extend their lead as Cook fired one in just 33 seconds after faceoff, followed by another power play opportunity for the Lancers to bring the score to 6–0 by graduate defender Kylian Kelly (Shrewsbury, Mass.). The remainder of the game would see Assumption pushing for a deficit decrease through power play opportunities and several shots to the net, however were eventually eliminated as the clock hit zero.
Wozniak and Cook both recorded a team best six shots on goal, with Cook recording a goal & an assist and Wozniak scoring two and assisting one. For the Greyhounds, Jacqueline Poulack shot three on goal to bring Assumption's total to 15.
In the net, senior Amber Lee (Fairlawn, NJ), saved all fifteen shots from Assumption, while Kaitlyn Oatley had an impressive 38 saves on 44 shots from the Lancers.
With this win, the Blue & Gold now await the winner of the Anna Maria/Rivier Semifinal, who they will face this Sunday afternoon at the Worcester Ice Center, for their second appearence in the ECHA Championship. Puck drop is slated for 4:20pm.
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