Box Score Scoring Summary

AUBURN, Mass. - The Western New England College men's hockey team skated to a 3-3 overtime tie against host Worcester State Thursday night (Nov. 11) in an opening round game of the Pepperidge Farm Face-Off Classic.

The Golden Bears (1-0-1) advanced to the championship game when junior forward Rory Hansen (Noblesville, IL) scored the only goal in the shootout.

WNEC will meet Division II Southern New Hampshire (a 3-1 winner over Johnson & Wales) in the title game at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Nov. 13).

Coach Greg Heffernan's squad erased a 3-0 deficit to send the game into the extra session by scoring a goal in the middle stanza and two in the third period.

Junior forward Kory Grahl (San Diego, CA) scored the Golden Bears' first goal at the 8:34 mark of the second period.

Freshman forward Chris Connors (Albany, NY) made it a 3-2 game with his first collegiate goal just 3:56 into the final period with an assist from Grahl.

Hansen then netted the equalizer at 6:52 as Grahl again had an assist for a three-point performance.

The Lancers scored all their goals in the final 6:37 of the opening period on goals by sophomore defenseman Paul Conceison (Burlington, MA), senior forward Chris Wallin (Avon, CT), and sophomore forward Tim D'Orazio (Jamison, PA), the last two coming at 19:00 and 19:22, respectively.

Western New England College freshman goalie Eric Sorenson (Rochester, NY) finished with 23 saves. He also turned away all four WSU attempts in the shootout.

Junior Bryan Kalczynski (Tonawanda, NY) stopped 45 shots in a nice effort for the Lancers who were making their season debut.