Worcester Hosts First Annual Dog Toy Toss in Loss to Corsairs

Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Men's Ice Hockey team (6-15, 5-12) hosted the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth (12-9, 10-7) in their first annual inaugural Dog Toy Toss to support the Worcester Animal Rescue League. Toys were sold and donations collected prior to the start of the game, with the toss set to occur after the Worcester State Lancers goal of the game. Worcester, who just came off an upset win over currently fourth seeded Westfield State, looked to add another consecutive win to their column in a pivotal rematch with the Corsairs.

Final
Worcester State: 3

UMass-Dartmouth: 5

How it Happened:

While the game was just beginning and each team was becoming settled on the ice, the first shot of the game came after nearly three minutes into the first period. The next shot, followed up by Vincent Nicosia, hit the back of the net, dashing past the Worcester State goalkeeper junior, Jakub Kubik (Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic). With the Lancers down by one early in the first period, the resilient team worked to find a way to come back and do it quickly. The teams would break nearly even on shots in the first, with the Corsairs recording 11 to Worcester's 8, behind the stubborn Corsaris goalkeeper, sophomore Marshall McKallip (Pittsbugh, PA). Both teams would go into the locker room with the Corsairs on top at 1-0 and a power play each in the period. There were opportunities for the Lancers a plenty in the first as they looked for the golden goal for the dog toys to start flying.

It would take just over four minutes for first year Brady Carpenter (Peabody, MA) to score the crucial goal that would release a torrent of toys into the ice, tying the game at 1-1. With dog toys flying everywhere, the crowd was electric, as the Worcester State Men's Hockey Team covered the ice to grab each and every toy for the WARL.

But quickly after the celebrations concluded, a penalty by junior Cody Porcello (Melrose, MA) would abruptly slow the Lancers momentum for a seemingly endless two minutes. Hanging by a thread, Worcester State's goalkeeper Jakub Kubik performed a glorious double save, stopping the Corsairs from capitalizing on a 3-on-2 opportunity. Moments later, a sharp pass that looked more like a shot, landed at the feet of first year Alex Walker (Lotrobe, PA) before he successfully put the puck behind Kubik once again, putting the UMass-Dartmouth Corsairs on top at 2-1.

The floodgates were officially open. Not just for the Corsairs, but the trailing Lancers as well. After a quick faceoff win by sophomore Shane Prifrel (Inver Grove Heights, MIN) for the Lancers, graduate student Brendan Ronan (Saugus, MA) striked the puck with a forceful slapshot which shortly tied the game before an unfortunate turnover led to another goal by first year Collin Patterson (Rockledge, FL) for the Corsairs. 

With a multitude of penalite for each team, each teams' power plays stood strong which resulted in an action-packed second period that ends at 2-3, with the Lancers trailing to the Corsairs trailing by one. 

The action did not stop from here. In fact, it would carry on just one minute into the third and final period, as graduate student Micheal Perrone (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.) scored to widen the Corsairs lead early in the period. Their early two score lead would quickly be decreased to one goal though as a result of senior Brian Clougherty's (Lynn,MA) beautiful centering of the puck, allowing senior Mikey Wilson (Alexandria, VA) to slot the puck into the back of the net. Many shots later, a clever interception by senior Colin Cromie (Elgin, IL) would lead to a 1-on-1 opportunity between himself and Worcester State's Kubik which allowed him to show his immense talent by making an incredible save, followed up by a stunning glove stop by teammate Priffrel. 

Unfortunately, Worcester State could not carry out the stunning plays for the remainder of play. With the clock quickly ticking down and the end of regulation approaching, Worcester State would pull their goalie which presented Michael Perrone with the final goal of the game and secure the 5-3 for the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs over the Worcester State Lancers.

At full time, the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs ended the match with a whopping 40, seven of which came from Collin Patterson who led UMass while the Lancers recorded 22, led by Prifrel and sophomore Anders Gronstad (Royal Oak, MI). Kubik would record 35 saves on the night in 58 minutes of action.

Worcester now moves to (6-16, 5-13) while the Corsairs sit at (13-9,11-7) on the night. UMass-Dartmouth returns to action on Saturday when they host Salem State at 5:30pm. The Lancers will travel to Fitcburg on Saturday, to take on the Falcons, at 4pm.