Ice Hockey Falls to Westfield State, 5-2, On Senior Night

Auburn, MA ---Westfield State senior Tyler Prendergast (Richmond Hill, Ontario/Whitby Fury) netted two goals - including the game-winner - to help lead the Owls to a 5-2 victory over Worcester State in MASCAC men's ice hockey action this evening at Horgan Rink.

With the win the Owls run their record to 11-12-1 overall and 10-6-1 in league play while the Lancers fall to 9-13-1 on the season and 5-11-1 in the conference.

Westfield State jumped out to the early 1-0 lead when Prendergast beat the goalie on the glove side following a beautiful drop pass at the 1:50 mark of the opening frame.

Worcester State answered when junior Stephen Rock (Tulsa, OK/Idaho Jr. Steelheads) took advantage of a turnover and lit the lamp at the 6:16 mark for the 1-1 tie.

Senior Derek Serbon (Crown Point, IN/ Tulsa Rampage) then gave the Blue and Gold the 2-1 advantage as he stayed with the play after losing the draw in the offensive zone, causing a turnover and depositing the puck into the net at the 10:37 mark of play.

Sophomore Kyllian Kirkwood (Copper Cliff, Ontario/Kemptville 73s) then turned the tide in favor of the Owls when his blast from the right point sounded the horn just 48 ticks into the middle frame to tie the contest yet again at 2-2.

Three and ½ minutes later Prendergast found the back of the net off an odd man rush when he beat the goaltender five-hole for the 3-2 tally at 4:15 of the second period.

Westfield State sophomore Dalton Jay (Hamilton, ON/Hamilton Red Wings) potted the third goal of the period for the Owls with his marker at 10:44 to make the score 4-2.

The visitors then sealed the game away with a third-period tally from freshman Jackson Leef (Fort Wayne, IN/Texas Tornado) with just 8:39 left to play.

Owl senior goalie Eddie Davey (Orangeville, ON/Abitibi Eskimos) recorded 24 saves to improve to 9-6 on the year while his counterpart, sophomore Salvatore Tecci (Franklin, MA/Long Beach Bombers), stopped 40 shots in the defeat and fell to 6-9-1.

Westfield State outshot the hosts 45-26 in the contest and neither team was able to capitalize on the man-advantage as Worcester State went 0-for-7 and the Owls were 0-for-5.

Serbon along with fourth-year teammates Curtis Martin (Okotoks, Alberta/San Diego Gulls) and Jordan Roberts (Littleton, CO/Boulder Bison) were honored on "Senior Night" for playing in their final home regular season contest.

Both teams wrap-up the regular season on Tuesday night as the Blue and Gold travel to Salem State for a 7 PM affair and Westfield State returns home to face-off with Plymouth State at 7:35 PM.

Story By John Hanna --- Sports Information Graduate Assistant

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