Strong Power Play Gives Lancers Second Straight Win

WORCESTER, Mass. — A pair of power play goals from Brian Allen (Brookfield, Conn.) and Marcus Mazur (Beverly Hills, Mich.) helped lead the Lancers to a 3-1 win over MASCAC rival, Fitchburg State, Thursday night at the Hart Recreation Center with Sterling Cup implications.

The Falcons started off the night well when John Celli (Leominster, Mass.) opened up the scoring less on power play than three minutes in on a harmless looking shot from the point. The puck took a strange deflection and hopped over the blocker of Max Kirkwood (Brunswick, Ohio), landing just inside the post. The rest of the first period had continuous end-to-end action and Worcester could not seem to cash in with a goal. Their luck changed with less than two minutes left in the period. With the power play winding down Allen netted the Lancer's tying goal which gave the blue and gold momentum going into the intermission.

The second period was a power play filled period. The Lancers, at one point, successfully killed off a 5-on-3 penalty that was almost three minutes long. Fitchburg could not break the strong shape of the Worcester State penalty kill unit as Worcester continuously dumped the puck back into the Fitchburg zone. This massive penalty kill would be rewarded at 16:36 of the period. Once again the Lancers were on the power play when Cody Weaver (W. Greenwich, RI) found Allen for the second goal of the game. The Lancers brought a 2-1 lead into the locker room and soon would build off their lead.

The Lancers opened up the third period with heavy pressure on the Falcons and fired multiple shots on goal. Less than a minute into the period, Nicholas Drill (Madison, Wisc.) found a loose puck to the right of the Falcon's goal and roofed it over the sprawling Charles Jakobsson (Jonkoping, Sweden). Jakobsson flashed the leather at the puck but just could not stop the whistling puck from going in. Drill's goal would give the Lancers their final goal and would remain 3-1 winners.

The 26 save performance for Kirkwood improves his record to 4-12-1 on the year. The loss for Jakobsson gives him a record of 7-5-0, registering 18 goals on the night.

With the win, Worcester State advances to 6-14-1, and 3-11-1 in the MASCAC. Fitchburg State absorbs the loss and drops to 10-11-1 overall, and 7-7-1 in conference play.

The Lancers next game is Saturday (Feb. 13) when Worcester State travels to Westfield State for a 5:35 p.m. puck drop. The Falcons also return to the ice on Saturday, when they will hit the road to take on Salem State at 2:00 p.m.

Release Courtesy of Connor Haynes, Sports Information Intern