Deraney Claims 350th NCAA Coaching Win as Lancers Down Ravens

Worcester, MA- In a return to action after a tough battle in the Codfish Bowl versus UMass Boston last week, the Worcester State Men's Ice Hockey team (5-5-3, 1-2-2) hosted NE-10 foe Franklin Pierce at the Fidelity Bank Ice Center. Also in the balance of the outcome is Head Coach Bob Deraney's hunt for his 350th career NCAA Head Coaching win. 

Final

Worcester State: 11

Franklin Pierce: 1

How it Happened:

The first period would be a strong attack on offense and defense for the Blue and Gold. Worcester would snag some opportunities in the Ravens zone, but it would be met by the Franklin Pierce defensive wall. Franklin Pierce would get on the board first, 8:13 in the game, and set up a premier contest between the two programs. Worcester would commit a penalty a few minutes later, but the Blue and Gold would be ready for the challenge and have no problem killing off the Ravens power play. Late in the first period, junior Michael Schaaf (Nashua,NH) would find an opening to put one past the Ravens goal keeper with the additional teamwork of first year Sean Tyrie (East Quogue, NY) and junior Nick Weber (Woodbury, MN) to tie the game at one a piece. But the fireworks would continue just 5 seconds after the first as Tyrie would grab a goal of his own and give Worcester a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period. Playing support for Tyrie in goal two was sophomore dual sport standout Bryce Grandbois (Windsor, ON) junior Stirling Nash (Edmonds, WA). Junior Donovan Alfama (Douglas, MA) would snag 7 saves to end the period.

The second period would see carried momentum from the end of the first period as Worcester would grab two goals in a span of 17 seconds. First one was junior Matthew Nuzzolillo (Worcester, MA) with sophomore Cam Quigley (Quincy, MA) and Nash on the assist. Then senior Niklas Byman (Sippo, FN) would fire goal number 4 for the Blue and Gold as junior Spencer Hecklinger (Denver, CO) and senior Anders Grongstad (Royal Oak, MI) gave the Lancers a 4-1 lead. Worcester would not stop scoring as Grandbois would snag another point with Tyrie and Schaaf assisting for a 5-1 lead. Junior Brady Carpenter (Peabody, MA) would add another goal to the tally for Worcester as sophomore Jacob Costa (Cranston, RI) would assist Carpenter for a 6-1 lead. Worcester would add one more goal  to end the period as junior Matt Lombardi (Hudson, MA) would get on the board with Carpenter and Costa assisting for a 7-1 lead to end the period.

The third period would be an offensive power for the Lancers. Worcester would commit a penalty seven minutes in the third but they would be ready as they would kill the Ravens power play once again. Worcester would get a score on the power play as Nash and Nuzzolilo would set up junior Nick Weber (Woodbury, MN) as the Lancers extended the score to 8-1. Worcester would snag goal number two of the period as senior Shane Prifrel (Inner Grove Heights, MN) would give the Lancers a 9-1 lead. Worcester would add two more goals as first year Myles Kidd (Norwood, MA) would be assisted by first year Mitch Jongmans (Hedal, NL) and then Tyrie would get another goal with Grandbois and Lombardi assisting to win 11-1 and Head Coach Bob Deraney's 350th career win.

What's Next:

The Blue and Gold (6-5-3, 1-2-2) take a brief 24 hour breather before they take on the Post Eagles on the road for an 8pm meeting.