Lancers Sweep MCLA in ECHA play

Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Women's Ice Hockey team returned to home ice this afternoon in the second of a home-and-away series versus the MCLA Trailblazers. Last night, the Lancers came away with the 6-0 victory over MCLA, and hope to continue their success today.

Final:

Worcester: 6

MCLA: 3

The game started off with some quick offense as just under two minutes into the game senior Cassidhe Wozniak (Turners Falls, MA) put one past the pad of MCLA netminder Kaia Borski. Wozniak was assisted by senior Amy MacGlashing (Marlborough, MA) and graduate student Katie Puumala (Framingham, MA) to put the first goal on the board. MCLA's Katie Pica broke the scoring on the weekend in the 12th minute of play with a powerplay goal to tie the game up at one. In the 19th minute of play the Trailblazers grabbed their first lead over Worcester State. Brigh Cote tapped in a backhander, taking the Trailblazers into intermission up by one score.

The Trailblazers powerplay struck again off the stick of Alexandrea Bednar in the 10th minute of the second period, extending the lead to 3-1. Worcester State would make quick work of digging their way out of the deficit, scoring their second goal just two minutes later off the stick of Puumala who was assisted by sophomore Cailey Ryan (Acton, MA) and first-year Fiona Hatton (Homer, AK). The Lancers would add a powerplay score of their own and Wozniak would tack onto her scoring total with her second of the day. The goal came in the 17th after passes from sophomore Jennarae Bateman (Wyoming, MN) and senior Ellen Cook (Beckett, MA) to tie the game at 3 apiece.

The third period would see the Lancers again grab the lead just under four minutes into the frame. Junior defender Grace Laubenstein (Weymouth, MA) would record the team's fourth goal as she sank it past MCLA's goalkeeper after first year Madelyn Franta (Superior, WI) and graduate student Shelby Reaugh (Raleigh, NC) worked the puck up to the blueline. The Lancers refused to take their foot off the pedal as they knocked in goal number five halfway through the third, this time with junior forward Kiersten Erickson (Broomfield, CO) leading the way off passes from Franta and Reaugh. Just four minutes after goal number five, Worcester would double the goal difference with a power play goal by Bateman from Cook and Puumala.

Worcester's sophomore goalkeeper, Kelsey Czerniawski (Chicopee, MA) would pick up 14 saves in the win, while MCLA's Borski recorded 60. 

Worcester State (4-3-1, 3-1-1) is back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Utica University for a 7pm puck drop before beginning their Thanksgiving break.