WESTFIELD – Westfield State University senior goaltender Thierry Messervier (Montreal, Quebec) recorded the 26-save shutout as the Owls defeated the visiting Framingham State University Rams 2-0 on Thursday night at Amelia Park in MASCAC action.
It was a defensively-based game for both squads, as both goaltenders fended off the majority of the scoring chances. But Messervier was a touch better, stopping all 26 Framingham shots to earn his first shutout of the year. Greg Harney (East Haven, Conn.) made 36 saves in the loss for the Rams.
Scoring chances were few and far between, but Josh Boulos (Burlington, Mass.) took advantage of a wide open shot from the point as he blasted home his third goal of the season off of the jersey of Harney and into the back of the net for the 1-0 Owl lead in the first frame.
That one goal would be enough, but senior captain Francois-Xavier Girard (St. Lazare, Quebec) added some insurance with an absolute rip of a wrist shot from the top of the circle halfway through the second period for the 2-0 advantage.
The Owls nearly made it a three-goal game shortly after that, throwing a bouncing a shot on net where Girard was lurking for another tally. But Harney would deny Girard with a sprawling save to put himself on top of the puck and keep the Westfield State lead at just two.
The third period saw two penalties for each side, but neither was able to convert, sealing the deal for the Owl’s 2-0 victory.
With the win, Westfield State (4-3-2) moves to 3-1-1 in the MASCAC, while the Rams (0-8) drop to 0-6 in the conference, still looking for that first win.
The Owls returns to action Saturday against another MASCAC opponent in UMass-Dartmouth, who comes to town for a 5:35 p.m. puck drop. – Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports
