Cahalane Notches Hat-Trick to Lead Worcester State Comeback

Worcester State 7, WNEC 6

Box Score

Auburn, MA --- Freshman center John Cahalane (Tewksbury, MA) scored a hat-trick including two goals in the final three minutes to help spark Worcester State's 7-6 come-from-behind win over Western New England College in non-conference men's hockey action this evening at Horgan Memorial Rink.

After first-year Joe Deputla (Anchorage, AK) made it a 6-4 Golden Bear lead with 15 minutes left to play, the Lancers (3-4) started their comeback at 15:26 on a marker by sophomore Kris Metea (Taunton, MA). Less than 30 seconds later, junior classmates Andy Orsini (Rochester, NY) and Tom Pappa (Oswego, NY) each notched helpers on the second of Cahalane's two goals to score the equalizer.

With less than 26 seconds left to play in the game, Orsini and junior Lee Belisle (Chicopee, MA) found Cahalane to score the game-winning goal to complete the WSC comeback.
WNEC (1-6) started the scoring when freshman Kory Grahl (San Diego, CA) knocked in his first tally of the season at 1:17 in the first period. Worcester State answered back when Orsini and Cahalane each registered goals 13 seconds apart at the five minute mark. The Golden Bears knotted the game up 2-2 at 12:53 on another marker by Grahl.

Sophomore Chris Lloyd (Lindenhurst, VA) scored a pair of goals to start the second and put WNEC up 4-2 when he took advantage of a power play at 4:17 and he hit home a pass from classmate Tyler Kwalek (Wallingford, CT) at 5:44. The Golden Bears added to the lead, taking advantage of another skater off the ice for WSC, when senior Ross Bennett-Bonn (Warwick, RI) scooped in a feed midway through the stanza.

The Lancers ended the second period with two goals four minutes apart from freshman Nick Asterito (Philadelphia, PA) and classmate Chris Wallin (Avon, CT) to get the Lancers within one.

Orsini ended the contest with four points for Worcester State while Lloyd chipped in with three points to pace WNEC. The Golden Bears were 3-for-6 in power play opportunities while WSC was just 1-for-4.

Junior Brian Robinson (Groveland, MA) recorded 24 saves for Worcester State to earn the victory. WNEC sophomore netminder Justin Richards (Somers, CT) fell to 0-3 despite collecting 28 stops between the pipes for the Golden Bears.

Both teams will resume play after the Thanksgiving break. Worcester State will visit Salem State on Monday at 7 PM while the Golden Bears will host Franklin Pierce on Tuesday at 7:20.