THE BASICS:

-Score: Assumption 4, Worcester State 3

-Records: Assumption (9-11-4); Worcester State (6-16-1)

-The Lead: In an exciting back and forth battle at the Hart Center on the campus of Holy Cross on Tuesday night, the Assumption College ice hockey team claimed a 4-3 victory clinched by senior Brandon Bete (Greenfield, Mass. / Northfield Mount Hermon), who tied the game at 3-3 before scoring the gamewinner on a power-play in the third period.

The contest marks the Hounds' final game of the regular season as Assumption will travel to face Stonehill in the Northeast-10 Semi-finals on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

-After an entire first period of scoreless play, Assumption got on the board first just less than four minutes into the second period when senior Alex Erban (Attleboro, Mass. / Mount Saint Charles) found the back of the net, assisted by sophomore Tommy Mahoney (Braintree, Mass. / Braintree).

-Worcester State tallied the equalizer just over a minute later before Assumption once again claimed the edge when freshman Mac Carnes (Farmington, Conn. / Avon Old Farms) scored at 12:16 in the frame, making it 2-1 Hounds.

-Worcester State fired twice more, the first in the 13th minute of the second period by Mike Moran, followed by another off the stick of Brian Allen on a power play to take a 3-2 lead just 2:24 into the third.

-Bete came alive in the final minutes, responding twice in the final stanza to score two power-play goals within two minutes. His first goal of the night came at 5:23 in the third when freshman Matt Damelio (Rochester, N.Y. / Northwood) and Carnes fed him the puck for the tying goal.

-At 6:59, Bete scored again unassisted on a power play for the gamewinner, 4-3.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-Overall the Lancers outshot the Hounds by a narrow 40-36 margin while Assumption held a slight advantage in faceoffs won 35-31.

-The Hounds went 2-for-3 on power-play opportunities while Worcester State capitalized on just one stint with the extra man.

-Both Bete and Carnes registered a team-high two points on the day while the senior also led the Hounds with 10 shots on goal. 

-Bete tallied 10 of Assumption's 36 shots on goal.

-Junior Nick Commesso (Marshfield, Mass. / The Governor's Academy) notched his eighth win of the season between the pipes, racking up 37 saves on the night.

-The Lancers' Drew Case registered 31 saves in net before being relieved by Tyler Fallica. Fallica saw just 1:36 in goal and gave up Bete's gamewinner to take the loss.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE:

-The win marks Assumption's ninth of the season. Last season, the Hounds claimed eight victories and prior to that, the Hounds had not earned more than seven wins in a single season since 2011-12 when the Hounds went 13-11-1. 

-Bete now ranks tied for first in the nation in power-play goals with 10.

-Bete continues to lead the NE-10 in points (34) and goal scoring (23).

-Bete was also just announced a semi-finalist for the Joe Concannon Award, awarded to New England's best American-born college hockey player at the NCAA Division II/III level.

-Commesso continues to lead the NE-10 in save percentage. 

UP NEXT:

-The Hounds will face Stonehill in the Northeast-10 Semi-finals on Saturday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m. A FREE fan bus to the first round of the NE-10 tournament will be available for students and will leave the Plourde at 6 p.m. Saturday! 

STAY CONNECTED:

-For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240. 

-Fans can also sign up for email updates and text message alerts for the men's ice hockey team and all of the other 23 Assumption varsity sports by clicking here.