#4 Fitchburg State Shocks #2 Salem State, 6-5 (OT)

Falcons claim MASCAC Championship with three unanswered goals in finals rematch

SALEM, Mass. (March 5, 2011) – Fourth-seeded Fitchburg State University claimed the 2010-11 MASCAC Championship this afternoon, skating to a 6-5 overtime victory with second-seeded Salem State University at the Rockett Arena.

Fighting from two goals down midway through the third period, Fitchburg State connected for three unanswered goals to force an overtime period and claim the league crown. Sophomore Trevor Lawler (Fitchburg, Mass./New England Jr. Huskies) registered the game-winning goal with a tally just 1:08 into the overtime frame, using a feed from junior Cory Callen (Annadale, N.J./Oswego State).

With the victory, Fitchburg State (18-9-1, 9-8-1 MASCAC) awaits a possible Pool C bid into the NCAA Tournament, while Salem State concludes its 2010-11 campaign with an overall record of 18-7-2 and an 11-5-2 clip in the MASCAC.

Fitchburg State opened the contest with a quick 2-0 lead, taking advantage of two power-plays in the period. Callen put the Falcons on the board first with a marker in front of the net at the 10:29 mark, while classmate Travis Bertolotti (Miller Place, N.Y./New York Bobcats), the MASCAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, gave the visitors a 2-0 advantage at 15:27. Salem State closed the gap in the closing minutes of the frame as Derek Crocker (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield) hit home at the 17:00 mark.

Fitchburg State picked up the offense right away in the second period as senior Chris Riggs (Sewell, N.J./Fort Vancouver Pioneers) found the back of the net just 53 seconds into the period, but Salem State rallied back, knotting the score at 3-3 with 3:31 to play. Sophomore Chris Costigan (Salem, N.H./Mass Cyclones) touched first for the Vikings, redirecting a shot off the skate of goaltender Robert Vorse (Leominster, Mass./Bay State Breakers) for a 3-2 deficit (2:52), before Josh Franklin (Wrentham, Mass./Vermont) tied the game with a breakaway tally at 17:29. The Vikings added a late goal with only 17 seconds remaining as Mike Genovese (Hingham, Mass./South Shore) gave Salem State its first lead of the game, 4-3.

Salem State continued to cruise into the third period, scoring its fourth unanswered marker off the stick of Franklin, but Fitchburg State responded with back-to-back scores to tie the game at 5-5. Senior Kevin McCready (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Mohawk CC) brought the Falcons within one, scoring on a back-handed effort in front of the net, while Bertolotti tied the contest with a slap-shot from the left point.

Fitchburg State skated fast despite playing in back-to-back overtime games as the Falcons controlled the shots margin with a 2-0 advantage in the extra frame. Vorse was strong between the pipes again, totaling 26 saves for Fitchburg State, while senior James LaCour (Silver Spring, Md./Xaverian Brothers) posted 18 stops in 48 minutes of work for the Vikings.

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Fitchburg State 6, Salem State 5 (OT) 

Scoring:
1st Period: FIT: Cory Callen (Bryan Canter), 10:29; FIT: Travis Bertolotti (John Soroka, Andrew Jones), 15:27; SSU: Derek Crocker (Nick Lampson), 17:00;
2nd Period: FIT: Chris Riggs (Justin Quinn, Thomas McAleer), 0:53; SSU: Chris Costigan (Lampson), 2:52; SSU: Josh Franklin (Casey Terreri), 17:29; SSU: Mike Genovese ,19:43;
3rd Period: SSU: Franklin (Crocker, Ian Flanagan), 1:40; FIT: Kevin McCready (Kris Threlkeld), 6:11; FIT: Bertolotti (Riggs, McAleer), 8:31;
OT: FIT: Trevor Lawler (Callen), 1:08;
Goaltending: FIT: Robert Vorse (61:08), 26 saves; SSU: James LaCour (48:31), 18 saves; Ryan Sutliffe (12:37), seven saves;
Shots On Goal: FIT: 31; SSU: 31