Worcester State Tops Salem State 4-2

WORCESTER, Mass. - Four different Lancers found the back of the net on Saturday afternoon as the Worcester State University ice hockey team defeated Salem State 4-2 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference action at the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center.

With the win, the Lancers improve to 3-2-0 overall on the season, and 2-1-0 in the MASCAC. Salem State drops to 1-3-0 overall and 1-2-0 in conference play.

Freshman CJ Buckingham (Pembroke, Mass.) opened the scoring 8:37 into the first period, tallying his first collegiate goal. The rookie tok a pass from fellow freshman Will Ahearn (Charlestown, Mass.), and ripped a shot past the Salem State goalkeeper on the blocker side to put the Lancers in front 1-0. Defenseman Marc Baron (Charleston, S.C.) also picked up an assist on the opening goal.

The score would remain 1-0 in favor of the Lancers until late in the second period, when senior Mitch Purdie (Peterborough, Ont.) finished off a beautiful tic-tac-goal with linemate Mike Moran (Milford, Mass.) for his third goal of the season. Purdie and Moran broke into the zone on a two-on-one and completed a give and go, as Moran fed Purdie, who had an easy tap in to extend the lead to 2-0 in the final two minutes of the second period.

It would take just 17 seconds for the Lancers to extend their lead to three. Sophomore Erik Pritchard (Cave Creek, Ariz.) scored on another Lancer 2-on-1 to put the Lancers on top, with an assist from freshman Nick Pennucci (Worcester, Mass.).

Freshman Matt Yianacopolus (Wakefield, Mass.) got the Vikings on the board with a power play goal with just 1.2 seconds left on the clock in the second period to cut the deficit to 3-1. On a shot from the left wing boards, Yianacopolus snuck a wrist shot under the pad of Aaron Callan (South Lyon, Mich.) for the first Viking goal of the afternoon.

Sophomore defenseman Jake Karelas (Melrose, Mass.) put the hosts back up by three 6:14 into the third period. Karelas one-timed a feed from sophomore Kyle Hayter (Helena, Mont.) at the left point and beat goalkeeper Sean Cleary (Barnstable, Mass.) low on the glove side.

Freshman Brooks Mitzel (Rapid City, S.D.) scored with just under seven minutes left in the period to cut into the Lancer lead, but it proved too little, too late as the Lancers secured the 4-2 victory.

Callan made 30 saves to pick up his second win of the season, while his counterpart Cleary turned aside 27 Lancer shots in the Salem State defeat.