Fitchburg State Rallies Past Salve Regina, 6-4

Falcons await ECAC Northeast playoffs earning the fifth-seed position

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (February 21, 2009) - Junior Andrew Hutton (Brewster, Mass./Boston Harbor Wolves) recorded a goal and an assist as Fitchburg State rallied back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat Salve Regina University 6-4 in ECAC Northeast action Saturday evening at Portsmouth Abbey Rink.

Senior Bob Kaloustian (Marlborough, Mass./Suffolk) scored a pair of goals for the Falcons (12-8-5, 9-5-3 ECAC), who ran their win streak to four games, while senior Ryan Petersen (Shrewsbury, N.J./Shrewsbury) scored twice for the Seahawks, who finish the 2008-09 season 3-17-2 (3-13-1 ECAC).

Trailing 3-1 at the end of the first period, the Falcons scored five unanswered goals - including four in a span of 6:10 in the second period - to take a 5-3 lead. Hutton chipped in a rebound off a point shot from senior Aaron Tiernan (Anchorage, Alaska/Central Texas Marshals) at 11:58 to cut the deficit to 3-2, and Kaloustian converted a two-on-one with senior Matt Arsenault (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) to tie the game at three at 15:06. Sophomore Chris Riggs (Sewell, N.J./Fort Vancouver Pioneers) gave the Falcons their first lead of the game at 16:09, knocking in a rebound off a point shot from freshman Kris Threlkeld (Centerville, Ohio/CD Selecdts), and Kaloustian's second of the period and 10th of the season at 18:08 capped the second period scoring.

The Seahawks answered with a power-play goal in the third from junior Patrick Bambery (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) at 13:56 to bring Salve Regina within a goal at 4-3, but Threlkeld's seventh of the season at 16:14 gave Fitchburg a two-goal cushion late in the third.

The Seahawks built a 3-0 lead behind two goals from Petersen and one from sophomore Joseph Errico (West Haven, Conn./West Haven). Petersen chipped in a pass from senior Conor McCahill (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) at the left side of the net to open the scoring at 4:20, and Errico made it 2-0 at 10:53 when he ripped a wrist shot into the net. Petersen's second of the night and team-leading 13th of the season at 16:29 gave the Seahawks a three-goal cushion. Freshman Matt Norraik (Dover, N.H.) and sophomore Bryan Russell (Essex Junction, Vt.) picked up assists on Petersen's second goal.

Fitchburg got on the board right before the first intermission on a power-play goal from Tiernan. The defenseman took a pass from freshman Bryan Canter (Anchorage, Alaska/Helena Bighorns) and fired a slap shot over the glove hand of Seahawk senior goalie Chase Goodrich (Salisbury, Vt.), who finished with 36 saves. Sophomore Robert Vorse (Leominster, Mass./Bay State Breakers) made 40 saves for the Falcons.

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Fitchburg State 6, Salve Regina 4

Scoring:
1st Period: SRU: Ryan Petersen (Conor McCahill, Bryan Russell), 4:20; SRU: Joseph Errico, 10:53; SRU: Petersen (Matt Norraik, Bryan Russell), 16:29; FIT: Aaron Tiernan (Bryan Canter, Kris Threlkeld), 19:22;
2nd Period: FIT: Andrew Hutton (Tiernan, Matt Arsenault), 11:58; FIT: Bob Kaloustian (Hutton, Arsenault), 15:06; FIT: Chris Riggs (Travis Bertolotti, Kris Threlkeld), 16:09; FIT: Kaloustian (Hutton, Threlkeld), 18:08
3rd  Period: SRU: Patrick Bambery (Joe Colaianni), 13:56; FIT: Threlkeld (Riggs, Chris Carey), 16:14;
Goaltending: FIT: Robert Vorse (60:00), 40 saves; SRU: Chase Goodrich (60:00), 36 saves;
Shots-On-Goal: FIT: 42; SRU: 44