Taylor Murphy is upended by Framingham goalie NIck Cafrelli during heated action in the first period. (Photo by Mickey Curtis)
WESTFIELD – Freshman goalie Jonathan LoParco recorded 25 saves in his first collegiate game to lift Westfield State University to a 4-1 victory over Framingham State University in a key Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference ice hockey game on Saturday evening, Jan. 11.
The Owls knocked the Rams out of first place with the big MASCAC victory and also avenged a 2-1 loss to Framingham in the conference opener. Westfield, 5-2 in the conference and 6-7 overall, is now tied with Salem State for first place in the MASCAC. Westfield hosts Salem in another key midseason showdown on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 7:35 p.m. Framingham is 4-2-1 in conference play at 6-4-1 overall.
Framingham goalie Nick Cafrelli makes a skate save of a shot by Tyler Prendergast, left. Westfield’s TJ Powers attempts to dislodge the puck. (Photo by Mickey Curtis)
After a scoreless first period in which Ram goalie Nick Cafrelli made a number of outstanding saves, the Owls opened the scoring five minutes into the second stanza on a short handed goal by Dave O’Connor. Dan Loughlin assisted on the goal with a short cross to an open O’Connor near the right post.
Westfield took a 2-0 lead near the end of the second period on a power play goal by Taylor Murphy.
Framingham sliced the lead to 2-1 on a power play goal by Brendan McCarron 4:20 into the third period. But Westfield quickly countered with P.J. McCadden goal 53 seconds later to regain its two-goal (3-1) lead.
Dalton Jay capped the scoring with an unassisted power play goal midway through the third period.
Westfield looked sharp on the offensive end and outshot Framingham, 42-26. Cafrelli finished with 38 saves.
