Lancers' Women Ice Hockey Grabs First Win of 2024, Downing Knights

Worcester, MA- After a long haul trek to Pennsylvania, the Worcester State Women's Ice Hockey (5-9-1, 4-1-1) team was set to skate away on the ice as they took on the Arcadia Knights (9-4, 7-3) in the first of their back-to-back game road trip. Worcester, who were coming off a heartbreaker on Tuesday, were primed to grab their first win of 2024 during the weekend.

Final:

Worcester State: 4

Arcadia: 3

It would take just one minute into the opening period for the Lancers to record their first shot of the game as senior Layna Pereiro (Chicago, IL) would open up the attack for Worcester. Though the save was knocked away, it set the tone for the period that would result in their opening goal in the opening 20 minutes of action. While the Knights would grab the first goal off a power play opportunity, Worcester would respond with a goal of their own with just under five minutes remaining, and while the power play was technically complete for Arcadia's first penalty, they had been awarded another finding Worcester up two skaters, the goal was scored just as time expired on penalty number one. Senior Cassidhe Wozniak (Turner Falls, MA) would open up the scoring off the slick sticks of sophomore Jennarae Bateman (Wyoming, MN) and senior team assist leader Ellen Cook (Becket, MA). The Lancers would lead the teams with 12 shots on goal to the Knights 10.

After an intermission in play, Worcester would return to the ice picking up right where they left off, scoring two quick goals in the opening two minutes of the period. Goal number one would be notched by graduate student Katie Puumala (Framingham, MA) off the pass from sophomore Cailey Ryan (Acton, MA) a minute and twenty one seconds into the action. After rocketing shot after shot for the next 30 seconds, Worcester would grab goal number two from junior Kiersten Erickson (Broomfield, CO) who chipped in a pass from senior Sydney Vautour (Hamilton, MA). Things would settle in for the remaining opening, with some minor excitement half way through the period, as Worcester killed an Arcadia powerplay to preserve their two goal lead. Just over 30 second after the successful power kill, Worcester would push the lead to three as sophomore Caroline Gates (Natick, MA) would collect a Vautour rebound from Arcadia's Jo Coates save to knock in goal number four in the 14' minute. Worcester would hold the control of the game for the remainder of the period, going over three minutes without conceding a single shot to the Knights. Arcadia would attempt to rally some offensive attack as the period came to a close, but Worcester carried the momentum through the waning time in the period. Worcester would, again, lead the shots on goal battle with 19-13 with sophomore Kelsey Czerniawski recording 23 saves in the game.

With the final period of action started, Worcester aimed to carry the momentum and success through to a victory. Arcadia would attempt to correct the ship, but an early penalty would easily shift the momentum back into the Lancers court and though they were unable to capitalize on the opportunity it allowed them to reassert their control of the game. Worcester would manage to control the remainder of the game. The Lancers would snag two more power play opportunities in the period, but the Knight's defense solidified their defense and were able to prevent the Lancers from extending their lead. Arcadia would up their offensive attack in the final minutes of the period in a bid to cut into the lead, scoring the closing goal of the game with just over two minutes remaining. Arcadia would add another level to the threat with 21 seconds left when they scored goal number three after pulling their goalkeeper in place of a sixth skater on the ice. The Knights repeated the goalie pull in a bid to tie up the game but were unable to record any additional goals as Worcester claimed the first game of the two game set 4-3.

The Lancers would close the game with 47 shots on goal, 67 total, with one power play goal in the game, recording only two penalties in the 60 minutes of action. Wozniak and Vautour would lead the Lancers with 2 points, as Czerniawski recorded 30 saves in the action. 

Worcester State now sits at (6-9-1, 4-1-1), grabbing their first win of 2024, as Arcadia moves to (9-5, 7-3) as the two teams will meet again at Hatfield Ice Arena in just under a day, as they return to action with a 3:30pm puck drop in Colmer, PA.