Men's Ice Hockey Opens MASCAC Play in Win Column

WESTFIELD, Mass. - The Worcester State University men's ice hockey team nabbed a 4-2 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Westfield State University Tuesday night at Amelia Park Arena.

With the win, Worcester State moves to 2-1-0 overall and 1-0-0 in the MASCAC. Westfield drops to 0-2-0 overall and 0-1-0 in league play.

Westfield State scored the contest's first goal with just 21 seconds left in the first period, but the Lancers battled back in the second period to take control of the contest. Junior captained Matthew Manning (Novi, Mich.) bookended three Lancer tallies in 7:02 to put the Lancers ahead 3-1 after 40 minutes. Nick Pennucci (Worcester, Mass.) scored the middle goal for the Lancers in the frame.

Sophomore Will Ahearn (Charlestown, Mass.) gave the Lancers some insurance 4:14 into the third, as he blocked a shot and skated down to score on a breakaway to put the Lancers ahead 4-1. The winger dangled to the backhand and lifted a shot past the sprawled Westfield goalie for a highlight reel tally.

Westfield State scored a power play goal with under two minutes to play to chip into Worcester State's lead, but couldn't get any closer with the extra skater as the Lancers closed out their third consecutive 4-2 final.

Lancer goaltender Ryan Hoff (Brockton, Mass.) got the win for Worcester State, turning aside 20 of the 22 shots he faced.

Worcester State will be off for over a week before they play in their home opener on November 14 at the Worcester Ice Center against UMass Dartmouth.

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