(Box Score) 

         WATERVILLE VALLEY, N.H. - Senior forward Chris Chambers (Crofton, Md.) and freshman defenseman Richie Zobak (Evergreen Park, Ill.) registered a goal and two assists apiece Tuesday evening as third-seeded Plymouth State University defeated sixth-seeded Worcester State College, 7-3, in the opening round of the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey tournament at Waterville Valley Arena.

         The Panthers, 17-8-1 overall, move on to the semifinal round and will travel to second-seeded Salem State College on Thursday for a 7:00 p.m. face-off.  The Lancers complete their season at 5-18-2.

         A pair of freshmen gave Plymouth State a 2-0 lead as Matt Aponte (Plano, Texas) opening the scoring five minutes into the game and Alex Cottle (West Chester, Pa.) followed with a power play goal at 13:50.

         The Panthers took control of the contest with four unanswered goals to start the middle frame, including two more by freshmen.  Chambers made it 3-0 with a backhander at 4:36, and freshman Sean Foley (Weymouth, Mass.) added an unassisted short-handed goal at 7:10.  Freshman Seth Phelan (Bristol, Conn.) scored less than a minute later and junior Andrew Stewart (O'Leary, PEI) made it 6-0 at the 9:47 mark.

         Junior Chris Wallin (Avon, Conn.) put the Lancers on the board with a power play goal with just over a minute to play in the second period.  Senior Mark Rintel (Oakland Gardens, N.Y.) and sophomore Nick Asterito (Philadelphia, Pa.) added third-period goals for the visitors, and Zobak scored a power play goal for PSU to round out the scoring.

         Plymouth State finished with a 47-22 advantage in shots on goal.  PSU senior goaltender Aaron Runner (Alpharetta, Ga.) made 19 saves to record the victory.

         The year's Panthers become just the second team in school history to reach 17 victories.  The school record was set by the 1985-86 squad, which finished 19-7. 

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