WORCESTER, Mass. (November 5, 2015) - The Worcester State University ice hockey team scored a pair of second period goals and held on for a 2-0 victory over Western New England University this evening in non-conference action at the Hart Center.
 
Making his first start in net for Western New England, senior goaltender Austin Keiser (Danwoody, Ga.) stopped 27 shots, including 13 in the third period as the Golden Bears attempted to cut into their deficit.
 
Senior forward Chris Lembo (Southington, Conn.) led the offensive efforts for Western New England with five shots, while sophomore defenseman Matt Audet (Campbell, Calif.) and freshmen David Kleyman (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and CJ Totillo (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tallied four each.
 
Worcester State sophomore netminder Tyler Fallica (Coram, N.Y.) was up to the challenge, however, turning back all 32 shots that came his way, including a game-high 14 over the final 20 minutes of action.
 
After playing through a scoreless opening period, freshman forward John Skarlis (Waterloo, Iowa) staked the Lancers to a 1-0 lead with the help of classmates Cody Weaver (West Greenwich, R.I.) and Andrew Etheridge (Burrillvilee, R.I.) 3:33 into the second frame.
 
Worcester State then doubled its advantage later in the period, when freshman Patrick Germain (Auburn, Mass.) potted his first of the season at the 13:55 mark.
 
The Golden Bears ramped up the offensive pressure in the third period, putting 14 shots on target, but were unable to break through as the Lancers held on for the 2-0 win.
 
Neither team was able to capitalize on its chances with a man advantage, as Western New England and Worcester State went a combined 0-for-9 on the power play.
 
Western New England (0-2, 0-0 ECAC NE) will look to get into the win column on Saturday night, as the Golden Bears open their Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Northeast slate with a 5 p.m. contest at the Wentworth Institute of Technology. Worcester State (2-1-1, 0-0-1 MASCAC) is off until next Thursday, when the Lancers return to conference play at Framingham State.