WESTFIELD – Freshman Sascha Figi (Kloten, Switzerland) and junior Patrick Germain (Auburn, Mass.) registered two goals each to propel the Fitchburg State ice hockey team to a 10-4 win over the Owls of Westfield State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this evening at the Amelia Ice Park Arena.
The Owls are now 10-12-1 on the season and 8-9-0 in the MASCAC. The Falcons improve to 15-6-3 overall and 10-4-3 in conference play.
Prior to the game, the Owls recognized their five seniors Nik Passero (Fort Erie, Ont.), Jeremy Young (Lynnfield, Mass.) Cody Campbell-Rich (Bellingham, WA), Donovan Gardiner (Sterling Heights, MI) and Carl Greco (Niagara Falls, Ont.). Westfield State also welcomed back members of the 1978 ECAC championship team, which were recognized at the ceremonial puck drop.
Fitchburg State opened the scoring just 2:34 into the first period as freshman Kevin Perry (Hull, Mass.) gathered a feed from sophomore Kyle Hillick (Byfield, Mass.) and junior Brandon Ecklund (Fitchburg, Mass.) and deposited the puck into the net for his fifth tally on the year for the 1-0 lead.
Westfield State knotted the score (1-1) with just over four minutes left in the frame when junior Daniel Backstrom (Helsinki, Finland) connected on his sixth goal of the season before the Falcons regained the lead minutes later on a marker from junior Connor McPherson (Clovis, Calif.) to make the score 2-1.
In the second stanza, Fitchburg State upped its margin (3-1) at the 6:10 mark as junior Ricky Kramer (Barnstead, N.H.) buried a shot into the net for his eighth goal of the 2017-18 campaign. The Green and Gold would tack on two more goals in the span of 1:55 with senior Evan Byrnes (New City, N.Y.) and classmate James Gordon (Hingham, Mass.) finding the back of the net for the visitors for the 5-1 edge after 40 minutes of play.
In the final period of play, the Falcons scored five more time as Figi and Germain netted two goals each, while junior Christopher Vicario (Cranston, R.I.) added on score, resulting in the 10-4 victory.
The Falcons finished with a 52-43 advantage in shots.
Fitchburg State finished 2-for-5 on the power-play, while Westfield State went 1-for-3 with the man advantage.
Sophomore Kameron Limburg (Howell, Mich.) made 37 saves in 49:26 minutes of action for the Owls.
Freshman Brian McGrath (Worcester, Mass.) and junior Quinn Wold (Aurora, Colo.) combined to stop 39 shots for the Falcons.
The Owls will visit Plymouth State on Tuesday for a conference bout, starting at 6:00 P.M. The Falcons will host the Lancers of Worcester State University on Tuesday for a MASCAC clash at 7:00 P.M. – Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports
The Owls recognized their five seniors, Nik Passero, Jeremy Young, Cody Campbell-Rich, Donovan Gardiner and Carl Greco prior to the game Saturday. (Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports)
