SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Junior forward Tom Ford (North Grafton, MA) scored twice and junior goalie Jason Richardson (Perkasie, PA) compiled 42 saves as visiting Worcester State won its first game of the season with a 5-3 victory over Western New England College Thursday night (Nov. 15) in an ECAC Northeast contest at Smead Arena.

The Lancers are now 1-4 overall and 1-1 in the conference. The Golden Bears remain winless at 0-6-1 (0-2-1 ECAC Northeast).

Western New England College outshot Worcester by a 45-24 margin and had its highest scoring output of the season, but was forced to play catch-up the entire contest.

The Lancers took a 1-0 lead when sophomore forward Lee Belisle (Chicopee, MA) scored only 2:30 into the game, but the Golden Bears came back a short time later on the first goal of the season by junior left wing Ross Bennett-Bonn (Warwick, RI) at the 8:32 mark. Junior forward David Smith (Columbus, IN) and junior defenseman Joe Balog (Ludlow, MA) received the assists.

Ford then hit the back of the net twice in the second period before Balog scored his first goal of the season at 15:12 to get WNEC within 3-2 after 40 minutes. Sophomore center Ron Carlucci (Stamford, CT) and sophomore forward Matt Haddock (Hilliard, OH) assisted on the play.

Worcester State freshman forward Billy O'Neill (Wayne, PA) then netted what proved to be the game-winner at 7:33 of the final stanza.

Junior forward Craig Reyell (West Chazy, NY) got the Golden Bears back within a goal (4-3) at the 11:31 mark with assists again from Carlucci and Haddock.

With time running out, Western New England College received a costly penalty for too many players on the ice and with an empty net, Lancers sophomore forward Mark Rintel (Queens, NY) scored the final goal with 29 seconds left to seal the victory.