Worcester, MA- Returning to home ice the Worcester State Women's Ice Hockey team (0-3-0, 0-0-0) opens up conference play tonight for their first MASCAC battle against the Plymouth State Panthers (2-2-0, 0-0-0). Worcester has challenged their schedule early in preparation for their conference slate where they hope to continue their winning ways against some familiar, but multiple new conference opponents.
Final- OT
Worcester State: 3
Plymouth State: 4
How it Happened:
The Panthers and Lancers would start their action tonight in an even assault in the ice with Plymouth instantly starting with a level of urgency. Worcester kept their composure and refused to get pulled into the Panther game of chaos as they worked to control the zone and clear attempts back down into the attacking end. Worcester's steady play would see them awarded two power play opportunities but even a skater down, Plymouth was a constant thorn in Worcester's attack. The Blue and Gold would finally find the needed opportunity as sophomore Abbey Millman (Georgetown, MA) would collect a pass from fellow sophomore Caroline Melanson (Wakefield, MA) off a defense zone clearance and break her way down the ice to shuttle the puck over Plymouth's goalie Teagan Wilson to come away from the first with a 1-0 lead.
The following write would see more of the tactical approach of Worcester clashing with the chaotic chaos of Plymouth. While the Lancers were working to maintain their presence on the ice, the constant disorder and high pressure of Plymouth was not Worcester's friend as they managed to find a number of paths to cage, the constant dodging to get there made the shot selections a touch harder to come by. Sophomore Lana Pacific (Marlborough, MA) was dominant in the cage, but with the rising pressure on the ice, a single goal for Worcester did not feel like enough. With just two minutes left, and Worcester moving second off a power kil, that single goal lead would become null as Lauren McNeil would send a slap pass to Katie Porrello who was sitting in the right post for a deflection to tie the game up.
The final period of action saw the dam break between the two teams as the Lancers determined patience was put to the test of Plymouth's frantic decisive energy that saw two goals apiece for the Panthers and Lancers. Plymouth would grab the lead just under two minutes into the period off another Katie Porrello goal but it was answered in the ninth minute off another break away tuck, this time from sophomore Kaia Carlson (Denver, CO). Worcester would then claim the 3-2 lead as first year Avery Ireland (Longmeadow, MA) would thread the needle for her first goal, but Porrello was not done yet, adding her hat trick goal just over a minute later. A late penalty by Worcester would send the team into OT with Plymouth with the 4-3 skater advantage and Porrello would not wait long to close out her scoring and the victory.
What's Next:
Women's Ice Hockey (0-4-0, 0-1-0) will remain on the conference train this Friday as they journey to Framingham State to take on the Rams at 8:30pm at the New England Sports Center in the first meeting between these two teams.