EAST BOSTON – Ten Rams produced a point to anchor Suffolk men's hockey to a convincing 5-1 triumph over Worcester State Wednesday night at Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink. The win was the Rams first over the Lancers in over 15 years.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 5 | Worcester State 1
RECORDS: Suffolk (2-1-0) | Worcester State (1-2-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk potted a pair of pucks in the first 20 minutes to jump out to a 2-0 lead.
Josh Milso lit the lamp first as the sophomore teamed up for a give-and-go with Phil Feinberg to put the Rams on the board 9:39 into the contest. Michael McEachern had a hand in the game-opening goal as well.
The distance doubled with 2:25 remaining before the first intermission when Jack Robinson found the back of the net with a one-timer. Ryan Webb and Daniel McKiernan set-up the score.
Just over five minutes into the middle period McKeriann lengthened the blue-and-gold's lead to three. Webb won a battle in front of the Lancers net and sent the puck out to McKiernan, who sat in the middle of the left face-off dot. McKiernan quickly fired back at Wyatt Friedlander and snuck it by him to make it 3-0 Suffolk.
The Lancers eliminated the shutout 10 minutes later on the power play. Brian Clougherty was responsible for the strike with help from Bridgham Neuhold and Anders Gronstad.
Less than three minutes later Suffolk restored the three-goal margin when Feinberg found the back of the net. Scott McManus tipped the puck to Feinberg with the initial pass from the blue line off Tommy Whitford's stick.
Suffolk's scoring did not stop there as Milso put away his second of the night on the power play at the midway point of the final frame. The sophomore tucked away a rebound of Ralph Berry's shot to extend the host's advantage to 5-1. Nick Liotino collected an assist on the goal.
NETMINDER NOTES
- CJ Hapward logged 13 saves in the victory.
- Friedlander turned aside 51 shots in the setback.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKIN
- Milso contributed two of Suffolk's five goals.
- McKiernan and Feinberg had identical two-point stat lines with one marker and one helper each.
- Webb dished out two assists to finish with two points also.
- Robinson rounded out Suffolk's goal scorers with one strike.
- Whitford, McManus, Berry, Liotino, and McEachern dished out one assist apiece.
- Suffolk commanded the pace of play outshooting Worcester State, 56-14.
- Both teams went 1-for-3 on the power play.
- The Rams won the face-off battle, 42-27.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk defeated Worcester State for the first time since Dec. 1, 2007.
- The Rams are now 7-5-3 against WSU since 2000.
- Suffolk hosted Worcester State in Eastie for the first time.
- Tonight's contest was the first home game for the Rams versus the Lancers since Nov. 15, 2008.
- It is the first home victory for Suffolk over Worcester since Dec. 4, 2004, a 5-3 triumph.
- The Rams moved to 3-3 at home against WSU.
- Suffolk is now 1-1-0 versus Worcester State with Shawn McEachern on the bench.
- The five goals scored against WSU are the most for Suffolk since it potted seven in the 7-5 win over the Lancers Dec. 1, 2007.
- The five goals are the most for the Rams since it put together a 5-1 win at Wentworth Jan. 20, 2024.
- Milso netted his first goal of the year.
- Milso finished with a personal-best in goals (2) and points (s).
- McEachern recorded his first pointed as a Suffolk Ram.
- McKiernan produced his first points of the season. He had a personal-best two points.
- Robinson, Feinberg and Whitford registered the first points of their collegiate careers.
- Webb matched a personal-best in points (2) and assists (2).
- Berry registered his first assist of the year. The sophomore has produced one point in back-to-back games.
- Liotino logged his first point of the campaign on one assist.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk is back in Conference of New England (CNE) this weekend with a home-and-home series against Nichols. The Rams head to Harrisville, Rhode Island Friday, Nov. 15 for a 5:40 p.m. puck drop before hosting the Bison Saturday, Nov. 16 at 4:50 p.m.