MASCAC Semifinals, Worcester State Clips Vikings in OT

WORCESTER, Mass. --  Luke Pepin (Lee, N.H.) scored with :36 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, but Max Roth (Chicago, Ill.) netted the game-winner just :39 seconds into the extra period to send #2 Worcester State to the MASCAC Championship game this Saturday with a 5-4 victory over #6 Salem State. The Lancers will face-off against either Westfield State or Plymouth State. Worcester State (14-11) erased a 3-1 deficit to advance to their first championship game. The Vikings end their season 8-19.

After being postponed twice due to weather, Worcester State and Salem State clashed in the MASCAC Men's Ice Hockey Semifinal Wednesday afternoon at the Fidelity Bank Ice Arena in Worcester. 

The first period saw the Lancers take control for its majority, recording 11 shots in contrast to Salem's 9, including a goal by junior defender Jason Lee (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), from first-year forward  Anders Grongstad (Royal Oak, Mich.). Outside of the lone goal from Worcester, it was a clean score sheet for both teams as neither team recorded a penalty in the period.

The lone Worcester goal coming into the second period would not stand for long as the Vikings responded with three unanswered goals in the first five minutes of action. Salem's first to tie the game was fired in and unassisted by first year Landyn Greatorex (Reading, MA), followed quickly by a goal from junior Keegan O'Donoghue (Frisco, TX) from first year Ethan Demumbrum (Brentowood, MA) to grab the lead just under three minutes in. Salem kept the pace going with another goal still to come when O'Donoghue and Demumbrum connected with junior Erik Larsson (Lake Tahoe, CA) to take a commanding 3-1 forcing Worcester State to call a timeout in an attempt to settle and refocus the Lancer squad.

The timeout appeared to have the desired effect for Worcester as they stemmed the offensive attack from the Vikings forcing them to commit the single penalty of the game. The Lancers would work to cut into their deficit during the power play, but the Viking defense was not willing to concede ground forced the Lancers to skate away with no gain form the opportunity.Worcester would not stay quiet for long, cutting down their deficit to one just a minute after the successful Salem penalty kill with a shot in the net from senior forward Kevin  Drevitch (Oxford, N.J.), bringing the tally to 3-2 in favor of Salem. The second period would end with Worcester leading 22-17 in the shots on goal count, but the Vikings controlled the contest..

The Lancers shifted gears in the third period, as a goal from senior Brendan Ronan (Saugus, MA) 26 seconds into the start would equalize the score at three apiece. Worcester State would continue their run with a goal by sophomore Shane Prifrel (Inver Grove Heights, MN), from Stange, to give the Blue & Gold the lead once again. This looked like it was going to end up the game winner for the Lancers, until Salem keeper junior Aaron Mercer (Corner Brook, NL) was pulled from the net with under a minute remaining, giving the Vikings the chance at forcing overtime with a goal from Pepin in the final 36 seconds to keep their season alive. 

With the championship on the line, each team came out ready to knock in a quick goal to send their team into the MASCAC Championship. Seconds after face off, Roth was provided with a golden goal opportunity from Stange to punch the Lancers ticket to the MASCAC Championship, ending the Vikings' season after a hard fought battle filled with passion & determination. 

In the net, sophomore Jakub Kubik (Uherske Hradiste, Czech Rep.) recorded 28 saves on 32 shots on goal, while Salem's Mercer saved 31 out of 36.    

(Contributions from Worcester State Sports Information)