Fitchburg State Shoots Past UMass Dartmouth, 3-2

Falcons host MASCAC Championship game vs. Salem State on Saturday at 2 p.m.

FITCHBURG, Mass. (March 4, 2010) - Junior goaltender Robert Vorse (Leominster, Mass./Bay State Breakers) registered 21 saves in net as top-seeded Fitchburg State defeated fifth-seeded UMass Dartmouth, 3-2 in MASCAC Semifinal action this evening.

With the victory, Fitchburg State (19-5-1, 11-15-1 MASCAC) advances to the MASCAC Championship game where it will host Salem State College this Saturday at 2 p.m. UMass Dartmouth concludes it season with an overall record of 11-15-1 and a 5-12-1 mark in the conference.

Fitchburg State opened the contest with high-flying action, posting a 21-7 advantage in shots over the first frame. The line of Andrew Hutton (Brewster, Mass./Boston Harbor Wolves), Chris Riggs (Sewell, N.J./Fort Vancouver Pioneers and Kris Threlkeld (Centerville, Ohio/CD Selects) kicked things off, teaming up for the first marker of the game at the 7:43 mark as Hutton recorded his 12th goal of the season.

In the second, Fitchburg State continued to soar, exploding for two goals over the opening 3:32 of play. Sophomore Kevin McCready (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Mohawk CC) sparked the Falcons offense with his 13th marker just 1:55 into the stanza, while classmate Thomas McAleer (East Islip, N.Y./New York Bobcats) followed suit just 1:37 later with the eventual game-winner for his 11th score of the season.

UMass Dartmouth rallied back however, scoring twice throughout the third period to make it a one-goal contest with 0:46 remaining in regulation. Junior Adam Horgan (Clayton, N.C./Jersey Hitmen) broke the Corsairs' scoring silence midway through the third frame as he hit home a Todd Bartelson (Pepperell, Mass./Valley Jr. Warriors) and Joe Hill (Newburyport, Mass./Valley Jr. Warriors) feed, while sophomore Rob Dudley (Douglas, Mass./Middlesex School) tipped home Hill's slapper at the 19:14 mark to bring the Corsairs within one (3-2).

Playing with an extra man for the final 1:02 of play, UMass Dartmouth continued to pressure the Fitchburg State defense but the Falcons held strong, clearing the puck with 15 seconds on the clock. The Corsairs raced back in time to fire a last second shot, but Bartelson's attempt from ten yards out sailed wide to seal the Falcon victory.

Fitchburg State controlled the offense momentum throughout much of the contest, holding a commanding 41-23 advantage in shots. Vorse was stellar between the pipes for the Falcons, turning away 21 shots in the complete game effort, while senior goaltender Jon Dryjowicz-Burek (Ludlow, Mass./Springfield Jr. Falcons) stopped 38 for the Corsairs.

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Fitchburg State 3, UMass Dartmouth 2

Scoring
First Period: FIT: Andrew Hutton (Chris Riggs, Kris Threlkeld, 7:43;  
Second Period: FIT: Kevin McCready (Chris Brecken), 1:55; FIT: Thomas McAleer (Riggs, Patrick Dolan), 3:32;
Third Period: UMD: Adam Horgan (Todd Bartelson), 9:08; UMD: Rob Dudley (Joe Hill), 19:14;
Goaltending: FIT: Robert Vorse (60:00), 21 saves; UMD: Jon Dryjowicz-Burek (60:00), 38 saves;
Shots: FIT: 41; UMD: 23