WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University men's ice hockey team came out on the wrong end of a 1-0 score against Fitchburg State on Saturday night in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference action at the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center.
With the loss, Worcester State falls to 4-5-1 on the season, while Fitchburg jumps to 6-2-1.
Before the game, the Worcester State locker room at the Worcester Ice Center was dedicated to legendary coach and Worcester State Athletic Hall of Famer John "Doc" Coughlin Sr. Coughlin's son, John Coughlin Jr., is the associate head coach of the Lancers. The ceremony featured speeches from Worcester State President Barry Maloney and Director of Athletics Michael Mudd.
The teams were deadlocked through one period of play, with neither team finding the back of the net, despite the Lancers outshooting Fitchburg State 11-6.
In the second, a clean breakaway bid from freshman Deiter Stange (Niles, Ill.) was denied by the blocker of Fitchburg goaltender Brian McGrath. Minutes later, the Falcons finally broke through on Ryan Murphy's sixth goal of the season 11:04 into the period.
Worcester State would push for the tying goal in the third, but McGrath was up to the test. The goalkeeper finished with 40 saves to earn the shutout, and first star honors in the contest. Goal-scorer Murphy took home second star honors, while Worcester State goalie Josh Reinstein (Woodland Hills, Calif.) got third star, with 27 saves on 28 chances.
The Lancers will hit the ice for the final time in 2019 on Tuesday evening with a roadtrip to Stonehill College on Tuesday evening. Puck drop is set for 7:10 p.m.
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