Fitchburg State Tricks Salem State, 5-3

Quinn registered first-career hat-trick in Falcons MASCAC victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. (January 20, 2011) –  Sophomore Justin Quinn (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) registered his first career hat-trick to lead the Fitchburg State ice hockey team to a 5-3 MASCAC victory over Salem State University this evening.

Quinn was stellar from the point, finishing with three goals scored on seven shots, while junior Thomas McAleer (East Islip, N.Y./New York Bobcats) added one goal and one assist in the victory. Junior Ian Flanagan (New Hampton, N.H./Boston Bulldogs), sophomore Dan Smolinsky (Plymouth, Mass./South Shore Kings) and classmate Matt Kenline (Yarmouth, Mass./Wichita Falls) all finished with markers for the Vikings.

Holding a 1-0 lead after one period of play, Fitchburg State began to open its offense as Quinn buried a pair of makers in the second stanza. Quinn opened the scoring with a short-handed, unassisted tally at the 6:24 mark and later capped the strong period with a buzz beater effort at 19:59 of the frame. The Vikings got on the board midway through the period as Flanagan notched his sixth tally of the season to hold the game at 3-1 heading into intermission.

In the third period, Fitchburg State came out gunning as sophomore Jack Vets (Hamden, Conn./Hartford Jr. Wolfpack) connected for his second goal of the season, using assists from Andrew Jones (Franklin, Mass./Walpole Express) and Cory Callen (Annadale, N.J./Oswego State) on the play. The Vikings did not lie down however, posting back-to-back markers from Kenline and Smolinsky, but Fitchburg State halted the Salem comeback as Quinn completed his hat-trick with just one minute remaining in regulation.

Despite being out-shot 45-27 in the contest, Fitchburg State took advantage of its specialty teams, converting two shorthanded goals and one power-play score throughout the contest. In net, junior Bobby Leiser (Monroe, N.Y./New York Applecore) earned his eighth victory of the season, posting 42 saves in the complete game effort, while senior James LaCour (Silver Spring, Md./Walpole Stars) stopped 15 shots in the Vikings loss.

Fitchburg State (11-4-0, 5-3-0 MASCAC) will hit the ice again on Saturday as it hosts Westfield State University at 4 p.m. Salem State (10-4-1, 5-3-0 MASCAC) will travel to Framingham State University on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 5, Salem State 3

Scoring:
1st Period: FIT: Thomas McAleer, 7:17;
2nd Period: FIT: Justin Quinn, 6:24; SSU: Ian Flanagan (Kyle Phelan, Mark Macdonald), 13:33;  FIT: Quinn (Billy Pescosolido, Thomas McAleer), 19:59;
3rd Period: FIT: Jack Vets (Andrew Jones, Cory Callen), 3:18; SSU: Matt Kenline (Brian Hanafin), 13:45; SSU: Dan Smolinsky (Giancarlo Capodanno, Casey Terreri), 17:55; FIT: Quinn, 18:57;
Goaltending: FIT: Bobby Leiser (60:00), 42 saves; SSU: James Lacour (43:18), 15 saves; Ryan Sutliffe (15:39), seven saves;
Shots On Goal: FIT: 27; SSU: 45