Sophomore forward TJ Powers scored two goals, including the game winner, for the second straight game. He leads the Owls with 12 goals and 24 points. (Photo By Mickey Curtis)
AUBURN – Westfield State sophomore TJ Powers (E. Greenwich, RI) registered a pair of goals and an assist for three points to help lead the red-hot Owls past Worcester State, 5-1, in MASCAC men’s ice hockey action Saturday evening at Horgan Memorial Rink.
The visitors, who ran their unbeaten streak to seven straight, used five unanswered goals in the final two frames to boost their overall record to 13-6-1 and 9-4-1 in the MASCAC, for second place overall. The Blue and Gold fall to 6-12-3 on the season and 3-9-2 in league play.
Westfield State freshman P.J. McCadden (Mount Sinai, NY) also enjoyed a three-point night as he collected one goal to go along with two assists while sophomore Steve Evans (Kingston, ON) chipped in with two helpers of his own.
Worcester State controlled play in the opening period collecting numerous scoring chances before second-year Nathan Stanley (Meridian, ID) was able to light the lamp at the 13:46 mark for the 1-0 advantage.
Westfield State knotted the score early in the second period when junior Vince Perreault (Braeside, ON) found the back of the net at the 1:22 mark.
Powers then broke the tie for the 2-1 edge as he connected for his 11th goal of the season to cap off the scoring in the second stanza off a great drop pass by McCadden at 7:08 to give the Owls the lead for good.
To start off the third period, Powers connected for his team-leading 12th tally of the season with some help once again from McCadden with 7:22 off the clock.
Freshman Dalton Jay (Hamilton, ON) then made it a three-goal contest as he put the puck between the pipes midway through the final period.
McCadden then collected his third point on the night as he added a goal with 3:25 left in regulation to seal the 5-1 victory for the Owls.
Westfield State senior netminder Ian Perrier (Whitehorse, YT) was stellar between the pipes as he stopped 30 out of a possible 31 shots.
Worcester State freshman Salvatore Tecci (Frankling, MA) tallied 29 saves for the game.
Each team went 1-for-4 on with the man advantage while the Owls had the 34-31 lead in shots.
Stanley finished with his team-leading seventh goal of the season for the Lancers and sophomore Cody Osburn (Sacramento, CA) chipped in with his ninth dish of the year on the lone marker to move into a tie for sixth in the conference in overall defensemen scoring.
The Blue and Gold return to action on Thursday night as they host Fitchburg State at 5:30 PM and the Owls return home to face off with Framingham State for a 7:35 PM contest.
