Team Effort Helps Ice Hockey Blank UMass Dartmouth, 4-0

N. Dartmouth, MA --- Four different goal scorers found the back of the net and freshman Tyler Fallica (Coram, NY/Ogden Mustangs) turned aside all 24 shots he saw as Worcester State posted a 4-0 triumph over UMass Dartmouth in MASCAC men's ice hockey action this evening at the Hetland Skating Arena.

In the victory, the Lancers improve to 4-12-2 overall and move to 3-8-1 in conference play. The Corsairs dip to 6-12-2 and 5-6-2 against league opponents.

Despite being outshot 13-7 by the hosts in the opening frame, the Blue and Gold took over the 2-0 lead with goals four minutes apart by senior RJ Byrne (Marlboro, MA/Boston Jr Bruins) and classmate Andrew Bates (Marblehead, MA/Boston Jr Bulldogs)

Bates scored his third of the campaign around the 11:35 mark off rebounded shot with some help by junior Nicholas Drill (Madison, WI/Wisconsin Wilderness) and freshman Alex Pommerville (Macedon, NY/Salt Lake City Moose).

Byrne then gave WSU the two-goal advantage early in the opening frame when netted his first of the season on assists by junior Joe White (Wonder Lake, IL/Southern Oregon Spartans) and senior Taylor Laneville (Edmonds, WA/Helena Bighorns.

The Lancers put the game out of reach by netting markers 13 seconds apart early on in the second period.

Senior Rich Ledy (Marquette, MI/Soo Thunderbirds) wristed his fifth of the season past the UMD netminder off a pass by senior Nathan Stanley (Meridian, ID/Idaho Jr Steelheads) with 6:28 off the clock.

Classmate Brenton Dyok (Rocklin, CA/San Diego Gulls) tacked on the fourth by depositing his first goal of the year directly following the face-off following a shot on goal by sophomore Michael Dery (Grand Rapids, MI/Ogden Mustangs).

Fallica (2-5-1) took care of the rest as he stopped 15 shots over the final two frames to help Blue and Gold end a four game skid and he recorded his first collegiate shutout in the win.

Sophomore JJ Soloway (Derry, NH/Northern Cyclones) saw his record drop to 6-11-2 in the loss. He collected 28 saves in 57:50 minutes of action for the Corsairs.

Neither side was successful on the power play with the Lancers going 0-for-6 - including three in the final stanza alone - while UMD was 0-for-4 with the extra man on the ice.

The visitors also led in shots, 32-24.

Worcester State begins a three-game home stand starting with Westfield State on Tuesday at the Hart Recreation Center in an 8 PM face-off. The Corsairs head north to Framingham State for a 7:30 match-up against the Rams.