Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Men's Ice Hockey team (4-12, 3-9) are looking to get back onto the winning track Saturday night, hosting the Salem State Vikings (4-12, 4-8) in a pivotal MASCAC conference battle. In the last meeting between these two teams back in November, Worcester State was able to come away with the 5-2 victory that night and was primed for a repeat performance at the Fidelity Bank Ice Center.

Final

Worcester State: 0

Salem State: 4

In a pivotal MASCAC matchup for Worcester State they started the game with high intensity. They battled for every puck and played a strong tactical style of play while being committed to each and every attempt. In the opening five minutes of action, the Lancers were outshooting the Vikings as they worked to grab that critical first goal. In the opening minutes Worcester had a skater advantage of a Vikings cross checking penalty but were unable to convert the opportunity for the goal. Just six minutes later a delay of game on Salem would give the Lancers another advantage but the Vikings defense was like a wall, clearing out each Lancer opportunity. The pivotal opening goal came with just over six minutes left in the game after Worcester was penalized themselves for interference. The Vikings would not let the opportunity go to waste, just forty seconds in, Salem's Mitch Wilkie would one time a pass from teammate Landyn Greatorex for the opening goal in the game. Worcester would not back down though and continued to drive the puck down into the offensive zone, maintaining possession for a majority of the remaining period, gaining momentum to carry into the second period.

After the first intermission in play, both teams were equally as committed to scoring. The Worcester State Lancers in the first 10 minutes of the period, showed commitment to scoring the goal that ties the game. Both teams were very consistent offensively and defensively through the opening minutes. The Lancers had multiple opportunities, being awarded two power-plays, but unfortunately could not make the connections. The Vikings on the other hand, managed to capitalize on their short-handed situation when Landyn Greatorex scored a goal with less than 9 minutes left in the second period after picking off a pass and crashing down on the goal. Then soon there-after, Erik Larsson scored the third goal for the Vikings with almost 5 minutes left in the period. The Lancers continued to fight for their chances across the ice as they maneuvered their way into positions of success. A late delay of game penalty on the Lancers would see them end the period down a skater, a disadvantage they would work to overcome at the start of the third as they look to begin chipping away at the lead.

The third period was a high intensity battle between both the Vikings and Lancers with emotions running high. Penalties were called on both teams with the best chance for the Lancers coming in the final five minutes of the period with a hooking penalty on the Vikings giving the Lancers a skater advantage and an empty net adding a two skater advantage. Worcester would fire shot after shot, but the Vikings defense was indefatigable, knocking away each and every opportunity.  The Lancers would again pull junior Wyatt Friedlander (Lake Placid, NY) with just over a minute remaining, which the Viking would capitalize on a short time later sending the puck into the net for their fourth and final goal of the game. 

The Lancers now sit at (4-13-0, 3-10-0) while Salem's record is now (5-12, 5-8). Both teams return to action on January 25th with Salem headed to Plymouth State for a 6pm match up, while Worcester travels to MCLA for a 7pm faceoff.