WESTFIELD, Mass. – Worcester State senior Mikey Wilson (Alexandria, Va.) tallied a hattrick as the Lancers scored four unanswered goals to defeat Westfield State 4-1 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game on Saturday afternoon from Fidelity Bank Ice Arena in Worcester, Mass.
With the loss, the Owls fall to 9-11-1 on the season and 5-9 in the MASCAC. The Lancers tighten their hold on second place in the conference standings, improving to 10-10-1 overall and 9-4-1 in the league.
Owls first-year Cooper Board (Salem, Mass.) kickstarted the scoring for both sides 8:33 into the game with his team-leading tenth goal of the year to put the Owls up 1-0. Dan Long (Guilford, Conn.) and Justin Collins (Wilmington, Mass.) set up Board for the goal.
The Lancers answered a minute and 43 seconds later as Wilson connected on his first of three scores on a power play goal to tie the game at 1-1 with 9:16 remaining in the first period.
In the closing minutes of the first period, Martin Dlugolinsky (Stara Lubovna, Slovakia) gave the Lancers their first lead of the game with his fifth goal of the season which would prove to be the game-winner.
Both teams were held scoreless in the second period until the final minute of action where Wilson buried his second of the night with 14 seconds left until the intermission to advance the Lancers lead to two goals heading into the final frame.
Wilson was able to secure the hattrick with his team-leading 12th goal of the season late in the third period with an empty net goal.
Owls junior goalkeeper Valtteri Valtonen (Helsinki, Finland) saved 25 of 28 shots faced. Lancers netminder Jakub Kubik (Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic) registered 20 saves.
Worcester State outshot the Owls 29-21. Both teams were relatively disciplined in the contest with the Lancers managing to convert on one of their two power play opportunities. The Owls were held scoreless on their lone man-advantage chance.
Westfield State will look to get back in the win column this upcoming Thursday as the Owls host Salem State in a MASCAC game with puck drop scheduled for 7:35 P.M.