Worcester State Blanks Owls, 3-0

WORCESTER, Mass. – Wyatt Friedlander (Lake Placid, N.Y.) made 32 saves to earn his first career shutout as the Worcester State Lancers defeated Westfield State 3-0 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey on Monday afternoon at Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center.

In a rematch of a game won by the Owls in Westfield just two days ago, the Lancers improve to 8-10-1 and 5-6-1 in MASCAC play, while Westfield drops to 9-9-2 (4-7-2 MASCAC).

Friedlander earns his second career win and first clean sheet, while the Lancers record their second shutout on the season. They blanked Framingham State 4-0 on the road on November 18th.

The line of junior Brendan Ronan (Saugus, Mass.), junior Mike Wilson (Alexandria, Va.) and freshman Bridgham Neuhold (Edmond, Okla.) contributed on both of the first two goals, as Worcester scored once in each period. Ronan had a goal and an assist, while Neuhold had a pair of helpers on the night.

Wilson opened the scoring with his 3rd goal of the year seven minutes into the first period. He worked hard in front of the net to slam home the rebound on his own shot.

Ronan picked up a loose puck and potted it into a gaping net in the second period after Westfield goalie Valtteri Valtonen (Helsinki, Finland) had sprawled to make a save on a shot by Christian Phinney (Draper, Utah), who picked up the primary assist on the goal.

Nick Pennucci (Worcester, Mass.) added an insurance goal with five and a half minutes left in the third, his sixth of the season. Max Roth (Chicago, Ill.) and Deiter Stange (Niles, Ill.) picked up the assists.

Valtonen made 33 saves for the Owls, who were outshot 36-32. Westfield was 0-4 on power play attempts, while Pennucci's goal made the Lancers 1-5 with the extra skater.

In the thick of MASCAC play, Worcester State will play three games between February 10th and February 14th. They will begin on Thursday night at Framingham State, with a 7:40 PM puck drop.

The same night, Westfield will be at Salem State, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM.

-- release courtesy Worcester State sports info