The Rivier University men's hockey team finally had something to celebrate on Thursday night. (Photo courtesy of Rivier Athletics)

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Rivier men’s ice hockey team picked up its second conference victory at Worcester State, 8-1, in Massachusetts Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play on Thursday night at the Worcester Ice Center.

With the result, the Raiders moved to 2-15-1 ( 2-5-0 MASCAC), while the Lancers moved to 8-7-4 (1-4-3 MASCAC). The win snapped a 10-game winless streak,and gave the Raiders their first victory since Nov. 19.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First-year Aaron Sawicki lit the lamp for the Raiders at the 17:10 mark of the contest, connecting with classmate Mason Rudrud and sophomore Michael Caparco.

Caparco tucked away his first goal of the night to double the lead 3:12 into the second frame. Only 1:50 later on a power play opportunity, Sawicki tipped home his second of the night from Caparco and classmate Payton Kender to make it 3-0.

Sawicki and Caparco linked up with Sophomore Mark Phillips at the 14:10 mark, pushing the Raiders’ advantage to four. Kender capped off the second period scoring surge 33 seconds later, with an assist from sophomore Anthony Dalessio, to give the Raiders a commanding cushion.

Worcester knocked in its lone goal at the 14:49 mark to trim the margin before the final break.

Caparco carried the momentum into the third frame, scoring off a feed from Rudrud at 3:31, then completed his hat trick at 11:45 with a setup from first-year Wesley Haynes and Sawicki, extending their lead, 7-1.

Senior Alfred Rotiroti sealed the game with a shorthanded goal at 13:54, with help from Haynes and Kender.

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN

The Raiders outshot the Lancers 47-39…Caparco led the offense with six points, three goals, and three assists, finishing with a +4 rating.

Kender recorded a +5 rating with a goal and two assists.

Sawicki also posted a +5 rating, contributing two goals and assists.

Both Rudrud and Haynes added two assists each, finishing with a +4 rating.

Rotiroti and Phillips each tallied one goal…Dalessio delivered an assist on the night…Sophomore goaltender Josh Kirton recorded 38 saves.

The Lancers controlled faceoffs 41-28.

UP NEXT

The Raiders return to action on Saturday, January 31, for another MASCAC contest with Fitchburg St. at the Wallace Civic Center at 5 p.m.

WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYERS HONORED

Sophomore Leah Morrier and graduate student Samantha Franks were named to the New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Association (NEWISA) All-New England First and Third Teams, respectively, following the program’s historic 2025 season.

Morrier and Franks mark the first Rivier women’s soccer student-athletes to earn this recognition.

Morrier had an impressive first season with the Raiders. The Plaistow, N.H. native was named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Offensive Player of the Year after starting in all 21 games for the Raiders, recording 18 goals and nine assists, both single-season program records.

Franks posted a career-year in her final season with the Raiders. The Derry native earned a GNAC First Team All-Conference selection after finishing the 2025 campaign with a career best 16 points, coming by way of five goals and six assists, also career bests.

(Telegraph Staff Writer Tom King contributed to this report.)