PLYMOUTH, N.H. – The truth of the matter has finally begun to sink in.
Junior goaltender Thierry Messervier (Montreal, Quebec) made 52 saves against his former team, as Westfield State defeated Plymouth State for the first time in 6 years, 3-1 in MASCAC play Saturday night at Hanover rink in Plymouth.
For the Owls, the win marked the first victory against Plymouth State since January 31, 2013 and only the second win ever at Hanover arena; the first coming back on March 1, 2011.
Westfield State took the lead early again 6:42 into the first period when freshman Paul Frys (Portland, Ore.) entered the zone with speed on the nearside and fired a shot that Morelli tipped off the far side post. The rebound sat just outside the crease and junior Pearce Vance (Berkley, Mich.) poked it home for a 1-0 Owl lead.
The Owls doubled the lead on a power play goal in the final minute of the stanza when senior Aaron Clancy (Quincy, Mass.) cleaned up the rebound from a wrist shot from the point to make it 2-0 Westfield.
Matt Volonnino (Hackettstown, N.J.) found the back of the net early in the third, tipping a shot from Tim Perron (Northborough, Mass.) to cut the Owls lead to 2-1.
Plymouth sent a flurry of shots at Westfield State goaltender Thierry Messervier, but he came up huge down the stretch, making 52 saves total, to keep the Panthers from netting the equalizer.
The loss drops Plymouth State to 10-6-3 and 7-3-2 in MASCAC play. Westfield State improves to 10-6-3 and 7-4-1 in league action and has gone 8-1-1 over its last ten games.
With the win, the Owls earn their 14th and 15th points to move within one point of the MASCAC-leading Panthers (16) and now share second place with UMass Dartmouth.
Both teams continue MASCAC play on Thursday, January 31. PSU hosts Worcester State at 6:00 p.m., while the Owls head to Salem State for a 7:00 p.m. contest. – Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports
