Lancers Pull Off Miracle Comeback, Down Assumption in Wild OT Thriller

WORCESTER, Mass. – Down by three goals with just two and a half minutes remaining, the Worcester State men's hockey team shocked Assumption University by scoring three times with their net empty to force overtime, then netting the game-winner less than a minute into the extra period for a 7-6 win on Wednesday afternoon at Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center.

Max Roth (Chicago, Ill.) scored the game-winning goal in a 4-on-3 situation, as the Lancers (7-9-1) brought a power play into the extra period. Roth was one of six different Lancers to find the scoresheet, including a pair of goals by freshman Martin Dlugolinsky (Stara Lubovna, Slovakia).

Dlugolinsky scored twice in the second period after the Greyhounds had taken a 3-0 lead. He put the home team on the scoreboard with his third goal of the year, and then converted a penalty shot with 12:47 gone in the second to make it 4-2 in favor of the visitors.

Bridgham Neuhold (Edmond, Okla.) scored his seventh goal of the year late in the second, but Worcester State went to the third period trailing 5-3.

That deficit increased again when Assumption's Dante Marbito (Georgetown, Mass.) completed a hat trick just under six minutes into the third.

The game stayed 6-3 until the 17:34 mark of the third, when Christian Phinney (Draper, Utah) scored his first collegiate goal on an assist from Kevin Drevitch (Oxford, N.J).

Less than a minute later, Matt Kowal (Monson, Mass.) sniped a shot past Michael Hauswirth (Lincoln, R.I.), who made 33 saves for Assumption (9-8-1). In a last gasp effort, Max Moriarty (East Longmeadow, Mass.) slammed home his first collegiate goal with half a minute to play to tie the game.

Roth slapped home a feed from Brian Clougherty (Lynn, Mass.) one minute into an overtime that the Lancers mostly controlled, having the man advantage.

Wyatt Friedlander (Lake Placid, N.Y.) earns his first collegiate victory in between the pipes. Friedlander made 12 saves on 13 shots after taking over to start the third period. 

The Hounds are back in action on Friday, February 4th with a conference matchup versus the Hawks of Saint Anselm at the Worcester Ice Center. Puck drop is set for 6:50pm. 

Worcester begins a home and home against Westfield State when they travel to the Owls on Saturday at 5:35 PM.