WORCESTER - After spotting the Portland Pirates a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes of play, the Worcester Sharks stormed back to dominate the next two periods to win 3-2 in game 10 of the Unum Cup Challenge on Sunday night. Forward Tom Cavanagh scored the Sharks first and third goals of the game to earn first star honors, while Thomas Greiss made 22 saves for his 18th win of the season.

The Pirates took a 1-0 lead just 2:41 into the game with a Ryan Carter tally. Carter motored down the right side of the Sharks zone, cut in front of defenseman Brennan Evans and swept the puck past a sprawled out Thomas Greiss.

Portland struck again, this at the 9:16 mark, when Brian Salcido fired what looked to be an innocent shot on net, but the puck eluded Greiss for a 2-0 lead.

After a dismal first period, the Sharks came out with a little more intensity to start the middle frame. Finally, midway through the period, the Sharks solved Portland netminder Sebastien Caron to cut the Pirates lead in half at 2-1. Tom Cavanagh received a pass through the neutral zone from Mathieu Darche, gained the offensive zone, and let off a quick snap shot from the left face-off circle and beat Caron to the low glove side.

Cavanagh’s goal would be the only one the Sharks got in the second period, but certainly not in the game.

Worcester knotted the game at two apiece with what could possibly be the prettiest goal of the season 3:21 into the third period. Graham Mink fended off two Portland defenders as he circled the Pirates net and dished the puck across the crease to a camped-out Mathieu Darche. Darche made no mistake on that pass as he slammed it home for No. 31 of the season.

Although the Darche-Mink hookup for the equalizer was pretty, Cavanagh scored the go-ahead goal for Worcester and that was down right sweet. The passing was tic-tac-toe, Garrett Stafford to Lukas Kaspar to Cavanagh and in the net. The goal turned out to be the game-winner and Cavangh’s first of the season in that category.

The Sharks are off until Wednesday when they play host to the Albany River Rats for the first annual WSRS Ladies Night. The first 500 ladies into the DCU Center will receive a Rose, courtesy of Perro’s Flowers. To purchase your tickets, click here. For more information, call 508.929.0500.