Ice Hockey Holds On To Take 3-2 Victory Over Becker In City Shootout Consolation

Auburn, MA --- Worcester State senior Curtis Martin (Okotoks, Alberta/San Diego Gulls) registered a pair of power play goals to help the Lancers defeat Becker, 3-2, in the consolation game of the Worcester City Shootout this evening at Horgan Rink.

Worcester State (4-4-1) grabbed the one-goal advantage in the first period when Martin found the back of the net with a one timer from the left dot with the man-advantage at 13:52.

Becker (1-7-2) nearly equalized the score with two minutes off the clock in the second stanza but was unable to capitalize on an offensive zone turnover after the Lancers won the draw.

Freshman Matthew Pietrzykowski (E. Bethany, NY/Twin Cities Northern Lights) recovered the loose puck in front of the net and dangled the goaltender, however, sophomore Drew Case (Plano, TX/Northern Cyclones) caught the puck in midair on his back to preserve the 1-0 lead for WSU.

The Blue and Gold pushed the margin and went up 2-0 when junior Andrew Bates (Marblehead, MA/Boston Jr. Bulldogs) jarred home a rebounded shot just two minutes later.

The Hawks cut the deficit in half headed into the second intermission when freshman Antonio Baccari (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Rochester Ice Hawks) capitalized on a power play when his wrist shot from the top of the left point at 18:55.

Worcester State wasted little time converting on a overlapped man advantage when Martin registered his second goal of the game with just 54 ticks off the clock in the third for the 3-1 score off a pass from the blue line from junior Rich Ledy (Marquette, MI/Soo Thunderbirds).

Becker kept fighting and opted for the empty net with just under two minutes remaining in regulation. With the extra attacker, sophomore Tyler Auricchio (Henderson, NV/Idaho Jr. Steelheads) hit one home at 18:14 making it a 3-2 contest.

But the Lancers defense stiffened and did not allow a clean opportunity in the final 70 ticks of game play.

Case was strong all day between the pipes for the Blue and Gold as he turned aside 37 shots. Becker sophomore Gregg Hussey (Medford, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) registered 27 stops in the setback.

Worcester State held the 39-30 advantage in shots and were 2-for-3 on the power play. Becker went 1-for-3 with the extra man edge.

For his efforts over the weekend, Martin was honored on the Worcester City Shootout All-Tournament team.

Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant

You can follow the Worcester State Lancers on Facebook and Twitter