Lancers Bring Down Amcats in ECHA Battle

Worcester, MA - The Worcester State Women's Ice Hockey team took on Anna Maria Saturday night at Buffone Rink in Worcester for a Saturday night conference showdown as they looked to grab a win over Anna Maria who defeated them earlier this season in a 3-2 battle on their home ice. 

The first period found both unable to get the puck in the net, although Worcester State was dominating offensively, outshooting the AMCATs 19-2 in the first period with shots on cage. Worcester State was able to control the puck on Anna Maria's side a majority of the time peppering shots and putting Anna Maria on the defensive early. Anna Maria's goalie Sam Dahill ( Littleton, MA) kept them in the game with repeated strong saves to keep the game scoreless at the end of the first. 

Worcester State found momentum into the second period, scoring two goals back to back in the 10th minute. The first was scored by junior Kiersten Erickson (Broomfield, CO) and assisted by sophomore Jennarae Bateman (Wyoming, MN). 16 seconds later, senior Amy MacGlashing (Marlborough, MA) sent the puck to senior Sydney Vautour (Hamilton, MA) to score directly off a faceoff in the offensive zone that shocked the AMCATs and the crowd in speed, sending the Lancers back to bench in celebration while still embracing goal number one. Seconds before the end of the period, graduate student Katie Puumala (Framingham, MA) scored the third goal to put the Lancers up 3-1. First year goalie Lana Pacific (Marlborough, MA) had 13 saves by the end of the second period to keep Anna Maria from getting on the board. 

The Lancers continued their strong play into the third period even as Anna Maria's defensive intensity picked up to stop the Lancers from scoring again. First year Olivia Fehl (Sergeant Bluff, IA) of Worcester State received a penalty in the 14th minute but even with a man down, the Lancers refused to concede a goal. The Lancers ended the game with 49 shots to Anna Maria's 21, with the final score ending at 3-0. 

Pacific ended the night with 21 saves in the shutout while Vatour led the Lancers with eight shots on the night.

Worcester State (5-4-1, 4-1-1)is back in action tomorrow when they travel to Wesleyan for a 4 pm start.