Natick, MA — The Mountaineers suffer their first loss of the season on Saturday, 3-2, losing to the Needham Rockets. Wachusett did jump out to a 1-0 lead just 3:10 into the game when Cody Penniman netted a snap shot from the slot. Ryan Flaherty and Travis Laidlaw both assisted on the goal. The first period was back and forth with Needham breaking through on a strange bounce from behind the net at 13:10 to tie the game at 1 heading into the first intermission. Back-to-back penalties to start the second period led to Wachusett being shorthanded 5 on 3. Needham was quick to capitalize scoring a 1:56 to take a 2-1 lead. Another Mountaineer penalty halfway through the frame would lead to another power play goal for the Rockets at 8:16 of the second period. Trailing 3-1 entering the third period, Wachusett played its best hockey of the night outshooting Needham 12 - 4 in the period, but just couldn't pull closer until under a minute to play. Wachusett was on the power play for the first time in the game with under 2 minutes left. They pulled the goalie to have a 6 on 4 advantage. Junior forward Tucker Watkins wristed home a shot from the top of the circles with just 22 seconds left in the game. The goal was Tucker's first as a Mountaineer and it was assisted by Flaherty and Penniman. Unfortunately, the Mountaineers ran out of time, losing 3 to 2. Kevin Shaw played well in net for Wachusett stopping 22 of the 24 shots he faced. The team is now 3 and 1 on the season and will play Natick in the consolation round of the tournament on Monday, 12/29/25, at 12:30 pm.