Worcester, MA — It's always an exciting day returning to the DCU Center in Worcester to take on long-time rival Auburn in a Central Mass tilt. The 2025 version did not disappoint. Wachusett came out flat in the first period falling down 3-0 just 5 and a half minutes into the game. Junior Forward Ryan Flaherty would get Wachusett on the board at the 12:25 mark on an assist by Colin Carlson, but Auburn would extend their lead to 4-1 scoring with 36 seconds left in the first period. Although Wachusett played better in the second, they could not close the gap until Senior Captain, Matt Bjorkman scored with just 5 seconds left to enter the second intermission trailing 4-2. Linemates Shea Whalen and Aiden Boyce assisted on the goal. That goal seemed to give the Mountaineers a little confidence boost heading into the final frame. Wachusett took over the game in the third scoring 4 more goals en route to the 6 - 4 comeback victory. At 4:15, Junior Captain Cody Penniman scored on an assist by Ethan Bennett to pull Wachusett within 1. At 8:02, Junior Travis Laidlaw wrapped around the net and roofed one short side to tie the game at 4. Freshman, Lucas Laidlaw earned the assist on the tying goal. At 13:09, off a faceoff, the junior line combination of Matt Brousseau, Brayden Allaire, and Caden Lane connected to score the game winner as Lane finished off a feed out front from his linemates who won the puck out of the corner. At 14:11, with Auburn trying to pull their goalie, Penniman raced down the ice and intercepted a clearing pass and scored the insurance goal on a wraparound, completing the win for Wachusett. This was a complete team effort today with 12 different player finding their way to the scoresheet. Gotta give a lot of credit to goaltender Kevin Shaw who, after giving up 4 goals in the first period, was able to shut the door on the Rockets for the rest of the game. Kevin is 5 and 0 on the season between the pipes and turned away 17 shots in the win. The team returns to action with two conference games next week facing Grafton on Wednesday and Nashoba on Saturday.