Matthew Philip Gets First Pro Goal As Mariners Snap Four-Game Skid In Worcester

Defenseman Matthew Philip started training camp with the Bloomington Bison ahead of the 2024-25 season before coming to Maine.

Saturday night, Philip picked up his first goal in professional hockey, and it proved to be the difference in a 4-3 Mariners win in Worcester over the Railers. Maine snapped a four-game skid in the process and earned three points over the weekend.

The Mariners scored the first two goals of the opening period to take a 2-0 lead. Defenseman Justin Bean took a shot from the right point that hit Jacob Hudson’s skate. Owen Pederson got the loose puck and fired a shot under the cross bar at 7:37.

At the 9:23 mark, Bean got his own tally, activating off the draw from the top of the right circle past Railers goaltender Michael Bullion’s glove.

Griffin Loughran got Worcester on the board with 18 seconds left in the period on a breakaway, and the two teams went into the first intermission with the Mariners holding a 2-1 lead.

Maine tacked on two more goals in the middle frame. Jimmy Lambert tucked in a beautiful backhander from below the goal line at the 6:39 mark of the second period for a 3-1 lead.

Philip made it 4-1 on a breakaway later in the period, after taking a feed from Hudson in the neutral zone, burying his first professional goal at 17:54.

It proved to be the difference, as the Railers would try to mount a comeback by scoring two goals in the third period. Anthony Repaci got a shorthanded goal at 11:07 to cut Maine’s lead to 4-2. Repaci continues his outstanding season with 24 points (16-8-24) in 22 games.

Anthony Callin then narrowed the gap to 4-3 on an empty-netter with 1:31 left when Worcester pulled Bullion.

The Mariners were able to run out the clock and preserve the victory, moving their record to 7-10-2. Worcester falls to 9-12-1 overall and 3-6-1 at the DCU Center.

Ryan Bischel earned his fifth victory of the season in the Mariners’ net, stopping 24 shots. Bullion was tagged with the loss, turning away 33 shots.

The Mariners return to home ice Sunday afternoon for their annual Teddy Bear toss, as they face the Trois-Rivieres Lions. Puck drop is set for 3 Pm ET.

Worcester’s next action is also on Sunday as they play host to the Norfolk Admirals. Puck drop is set for 3:05 Pm ET.