Worcester, MA- In a crucial final conference game of the season tonight, the Worcester State Women's Ice Hockey team (13-9-1, 10-3-1) look to grab the top spot in the inaugural MASCAC Post season tournament from Plymouth State. Currently the Panthers have a slight points edge over the Lancers, but a win in regulation would provide Worcester the number one seed in the tournament that starts next Wednesday.
Final
Worcester State: 1 (2)
Plymouth State: 1 (1)
How it Happened:
The Worcester State Lancers would battle it out against the Plymouth State Panthers in this heavy hitter conference matchup as soon as the puck dropped. Both of these teams sit at the top of the standings with Panthers just edging the Lancers by one MASCAC win and a single point in standings between them. The first power play for the Lancers would come with about 8 minutes left in the first period through a tripping penalty on the Panthers. For the next two minutes Plymouth State would play disciplined defense making it difficult for the Lancers to find quality looks. Junior Goaltender Kelsey Czerniawski (Chicopee, MA) would keep the netting in between the pipes safe totaling 14 saves to end the first period.
To start off the period we would see back and forth action between both teams. The Lancers would begin to find their footing and create more chances putting on the pressure on Plymouth State. With 14 minutes to go in the second period the Lancers would play a woman down due to a hooking penalty, followed less than a minute later with another one penalty leaving the Lancers with three on the ice. Plymouth State would capitalize on the opportunity and score with about 13 minutes left in the second period. At the ten minute mark the Panthers would play with four opening up a window for the Lancers to create some momentum of their own. The Lancers would punish the Panthers right away with a goal scored by forward graduate student Sydney Vautour (Hamilton, MA) assisted by junior Cailey Ryan (Acton, MA) leveling the game at 1-1. The period would end at that scoreline leaving the game open for either team to take.
Kicking off the third period it would be a cagey first five minutes for both teams partly due to the significance of this conference matchup. Both teams would create great chances but the goalkeepers for the Lancers and Panthers would be on their A game keeping the game level. In the last minute of the game the Lancers would take a risk pulling their goaltender in an attempt to end it in regulation and claim the top seed in the conference tournament. Ultimately the third period would end 1-1 sending the game into overtime, but while the Lancers would not come away the one seed, they were determined to grab a victory from Plymouth State. Both teams would generate some fantastic chances but to no avail leaving the game to be decided in a shootout. The Lancers would finish out the shootout with a 2-1 win, securing the #2 seed in the MASCAC standings.
Czerniawski would have a dominant performance all game, recording 42 saves on the night.
What's Next:
The Blue and Gold (13-9-2, 10-3-2) claim the #2 seed in the MASCAC tournament with tonight's final and will host the MASCAC semifinal game on Friday at the Worcester Ice Center. Puck drop is set for 2:50pm with an opponent yet to be determined. Prior to the postseason fun, the Lancers will head to Connecticut College tomorrow night for a 7:30pm start to close out the regular season.