Lancers Drop Third Period Battle to Rams

Worcester, MA- The Lancers were back in conference action Thursday night as they looked to continue their recent conference success as they have won the last two contested battles. Worcester comes into the game currently at (3-6-0, 3-4-0) after dropping a rescheduled WooCup battle with the Nichols Bison on Tuesday evening. The Rams come into the night with an identical record after beating Fitchburg State last Saturday. The matchup could have post season implications, with the Lancers grabbing the first win of the season versus Framingham at a score of 5-1. 

Final:

Worcester State: 0

Framingham State: 2

The first period was a physical and defensive affair as neither team found the back of the net and both teams set the tone early and often with their physicality. Both goalies recorded double-figure saved periods as junior Jakub Kubik (Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic) recorded 11 saves for Worcester State and Trevor Stenberg stopped all 12 he faced for the Rams. 

The second period again was dominated by the terrific play of both goalies and the defensive structures. The Lancers had 2 power play opportunities but were denied on each opportunity, while the Rams also had a power play but were stopped by Kubik and the Lancers defense. In the Lancers first power play junior Brigham Neuhold (Edmond, OK) had what appeared to be a beautiful lifted goal, but a force field around the cage seemed to magically keep the puck from crossing the line for the needed goal. This was the second such instance of the game, as the Lancers had what appeared to be the go ahead goal in the first period, but it was knocked out of the top corner without breaking the plane. The Rams had an opportunity of their own when Jake Barcelou (Hyde Park, MA) went to sneak one past Kubik, but rather than the expected goal and interference call was blown, giving the Lancers their second power play of the game and the Rams a missed opportunity.  The Lancers won the shot battle in the second period as they outshot the Rams 15-9 but even with a 2-1 power play advantage neither team was able to win the bigger battle, a goal in the net.

The third and final period started off like the first two as defense and goaltending was the name of the game. A pair of Worcester state miscommunication deep in their own zone resulted in a near goal but a diving save by sophomore Anders Grongstad (Royal Oak, MI)  prevented the open net shot from the Rams. Later in the period a puck went off Kubik's skate and behind falling into the goal to give Framingham the one nothing lead late in the third period. Framingham State tacked on an empty net goal in as the Lancers looked for the equalizier to end the game with the 2-0 win.

Jakub Kubik saved 27/28 shots he faced while Trevor Stenberg saved 36/36. The Lancers went 0-2 on the powerplay and recorded 7 shots, while Framingham recorded 1 shot on their lone power play. 

Worcester State moves to (3-7-0, 3-5-0) while the Rams now sit at (4-6-0,4-4-0). The Lancers are back in action on Saturday night at 6:30pm when they welcome Westfield State to the Fidelity Bank Ice Center.