Worcester, MA- After nearly a month away, the Worcester State Women's Ice Hockey (5-7-1, 4-1-1) team returned to the ice to take on Western New England in a Saturday night battle as the snow built in the sky. This is the first of two meetings this year for the teams as they host an away and home stretch with the Golden Bears.

Final

Worcester: 1

Western New England: 2

The opening period of action saw the Golden Bears and Lancers battling on even. Western New England had their first solid opportunity with about five minutes left in the first when Worcester State recorded their first penalty of the game off a tripping on the ice. The Lancers defense blocked every path for Western New England and shut down every scoring opportunity as they fired shot after shot on sophomore Kelsey Czerniawski (Chicopee, MA). At the close of the period the Lancers had successfully killed the power play but a late even strength attempt with a minute twenty to go would see the Golden Bears take a one goal lead into the first break after Alexa Paola knocked in a rebounded save off of Czerniaswski's pads. The Lancers would try to even it up before the first intermission, especially after a WNE penalty was called with just 10 seconds remaining, but the advantage would have to be held into the second period as the first 20 minutes ended with the Golden Bears holding the 1-0 lead. 

The Lancers defense, although allowing a single goal, was one point through the first, as they calmly handled the 14-5 shots on goal advantage Western New England held in the period.

While the Lancers would fail to capitalize on the opening man advantage of the second period, and would ensure there defense held strong with their own short handed situations to start the period, they were able to find the equalizing goal just over 15 minutes into the second period when sophomore Jennarae Bateman (Wyoming, MN) capitalize on a late period power play opportunity. The Golden Bears were tabbed with an interference penalty with 14 minutes already clicked off the second period, when Bateman collected the pass from graduate student Katie Puumala (Framingham, MA) and senior Ellen Cook (Becket, MA) to tie the game up at one goal a piece. Worcester would continue their offensive onslaught in the period but the Golden Bear;s keeper Kayla Ireland would work to ensure the Lancers were unable to take a lead into the second break in play. The Lancers were again outshot on the cage in the second, 11-4, but needed just the one to go in to bring the battle for the win into the final period. 

The final 20 minutes of regulation would see an evenly matched battle to the finish as each team looked to find the goal that would grab the lead and hopefully the eventual win. As the time clicked away on the third period each battled for the goal that would seal their victory. Worcester State found their offensive stride in the third outshooting the Golden Bears in their bid for win number six on the year. Even with the offensive attack of the third period, the Lancers outshooting the Golden Bears 12-6 on cage, and perfectly played, an unpenalized period. Both WNE and Worcester's defense refused to budge, forcing the game into an overtime period.

The five minutes of the overtime period looked to be a hotly contested battle with the Lancers quick out of the gate with a shot, but the Golden Bears blocked up the shot to keep the overtime period running. A goal halfway through the 5 minute overtime period by Western New England would clinch the victory in a contested battle between the Lancers and Golden Bears of a rebounded goal to see Worcester State fall 2-1.

Cziernawski would end the night with 30 saves, while the Lancers recorded 51 total shots, with 21 on frame.

Worcester State (5-8-1, 4-1-1) will return to the ice on Tuesday, January 9th when they travel to Curry College for a 7pm puck drop.