WESTFIELD – Senior forward Tyler Prendergast had two goals and an assist, and junior forward Dan Loughlin scored the game-winning goal with 2:48 remaining to lead Westfield State University to a 6-4 victory over Fitchburg State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference ice hockey game on Thursday, Nov. 21.
Westfield improves to 2-1 in the MASCAC and 2-4 overall; Fitchburg is 1-2 and 3-4.
The conference rivals took turns scoring in the seesaw game. Westfield jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the opening seven minutes on goals by Jackson Leef and Taylor Murphy.
Fitchburg knotted the score at 2-all with two power play goals from Ryan Connolly and Max Lorenzen later in the first stanza.
Prendergast scored the only goal in the second period as Westfield took a 3-2 lead. The Owls went ahead 4-2 early in the third period on a goal by senior captain Vince Perreault.
Fitchburg scored two more power play goals by Jake Martin and Cameron Snyder to tie the score again, 4-4, with 7:08 remaining. Loughlin then scored his game-winning goal by poking a loose puck across the crease with 2:48 remaining. The Owls added an empty net goal by Prendergast with 1:13 remaining.
Fitchburg outshot Westfield, 51-41, with Owl goalie Eddie Davey making 47 saves.
