Puumala lead Lancers stampede over Bison

Worcester, MA - The Lancers were back in action at home vs Nichols College in their final game of 2022. Senior Forward Katie Puumala (Framingham, MA) was the star of the night as Worcester capped off 2022 with a victory over the Bison. 

FINAL SCORE: Worcester 5, Nichols 1

SCORING PLAYS:

Period 1 | 05:25 - Worcester | Katie Puumala, assisted by Clare Conway

Period 1 | 10:39 - Nichols | Isabella Portt, unassisted 

Period 1 | 17:46 - Worcester | Jennarae Bateman, assisted by Lea Gasper & Kylian Kelly
Period 2 | 02:23 - Worcester | Katie Puumala, assisted by Clare Conway & Gabrielle Petrisin

Period 2 | 09:04 - Worcester | Cassidhe Wozniak, assisted by Cailey Ryan & Amy MacGlashing

Period 3 | 12:17 - Worcester | Clare Conway (Power Play), assisted by Katie Puumala & Kylian Kelly

Just five minutes into the game, Clare Conway connected with Katie Puumala for her second goal of the season to put the Lancers up early in the first period. However it didn't take long for the Bison to get themselves on the board with a solo goal from Isabella Portt to even the score. 

With just under two minutes to go First-year Forward Jennarae Bateman (Forest Lake, MN) fired one in Nichols' net on an assist from First-year Defender Lea Gasper (Chelmsford, MA) and Graduate Defender Kylian Kelly (Shrewsbury, MA), breaking the tie and putting Worcester back in the lead. Both Nichols and Worcester finished an eventful first period with 10 shots apiece.  

Once again the Lancers were off to a hot start at the start of the second period. Puumala got her second goal of the game, with help from Conway and senior Gabrielle Petrisin (Chesapeake, VA) as the Lancers extended their lead to 3-1 two minutes in. The Lancers wouldn't stop there as Senior Forward Cassidhe Wozniak (Turners Falls, MA) handed Worcester their fourth goal of the game off a pass from First-year Forward Cailey Ryan (Acton, MA) and Amy MacGlashing (Marlborough, MA). The Lancers finished the second period with twenty-one shots, while Nichols recorded twenty. 

A tense battle heading into the final minutes of the third period, the Lancers went on the Power Play after both teams went 4v4, to which Puumala and Kelly connected with Conway to further their lead over the Bison. Nichols would not give up, as they kept the pressure on the Lancer defense as the clock winded down to zero.

In the net, Amber Lee recorded a total of 27 saves on 28 shots in all 60 minutes played for the Lancers, while Nichols' Victoria Bakopanos and AnaMary Pulgar split time in goal and saved a total of 24 shots for the Bison.

The Blue & Gold finish 2022 in high spirits and will head into the new year with a 7-4 record, while Nichols drops to 2-7-1.

Catch the Lancers at home on January 6th as they open 2023 with a matchup against Utica, with puck drop scheduled for 7:20pm. #WeAreWorcester