Westfield State freshman forward Aaron Clancy. (WSU File Photo)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield State men’s hockey team scored two power play goals and senior Kyllian Kirkwood (Copper Cliff, Ont.) dished out four assists, leading the Owls past Worcester State, 5-1, in MASCAC action at Amelia Park Ice Arena Thursday night.
With the win, Westfield State improves to 4-1, 3-1 in the MASCAC, while Worcester State drops to 2-4-1, 0-3-1 in MASCAC play.
Westfield scored its first goal on the power play with 7:29 remaining in the first period after a Worcester State high-sticking penalty. Sophomore forward Roman Pfennings (Grefath, Germany) took a pass from Kirkwood above the right faceoff circle and blasted a shot past Lancers goaltender Max Kirkwood (Brunswick, OH).
The Owls added another goal with 1:09 left in the period when freshman forward Aaron Clancy (Quincy, Mass.) beat Kirkwood glove side with a wrist shot from the slot for his first collegiate goal.
Worcester State answered with a shorthanded goal less than five minutes into the period to cut the Owls lead to 2-1. Senior forward Joe White (Wonder Lake, IL) stole the puck near center ice and fed freshman forward Patrick Germain (Auburn, Mass.) in the slot for a quick goal.
Westfield State, however, responded with its second power play goal of the night later in the period to go ahead, 3-1. Junior forward Jackson Leef (Fort Wayne, IND) netted his sixth goal of the season, one-timing a pass from Kirkwood.
Twenty seconds later, sophomore forward Cody Campbell-Rich (Ridgecrest, Calif.) iced the game, one-timing a beautiful cross-ice pass from Kirkwood which left Campbell-Rich a wide open net.
Freshman forward Colby Daniels (Leask, Sask.) scored his first collegiate goal with under three minutes remaining in the third period for the Owls’ final goal.
Westfield State outshot Worcester State, 44-33, and held a 41-31 edge in faceoffs. Leef won 13 of 18 faceoffs, while sophomore forward Jeremy Young (Lynnfield, Mass.) won 11 of 16.
Junior goaltender Jonathan LoParco (Vaughan, Ont.) made 32 saves to help the Owls pick up the win. Kirkwood made 31 saves in two period for the Lancers, while senior Drew Case (Plano, TX) had eight saves in the final frame.
Westfield State returns to the ice on Saturday, November 21, hosting Framingham State at Amelia Park at 5:35 p.m.
