Fitchburg State Downs UMass Boston, 4-1

Falcons collect Codfish Bowl Championship behind Leiser's 58 save performance

BOSTON, Mass. (December 30, 2010) –  Junior goaltender Bobby Leiser (Monroe, N.Y./New York Applecore) registered a season-best 58 saves to lead the Fitchburg State ice hockey team to a Codfish Bowl Championship, posting a 4-1 victory over host UMass Boston this evening.

Leiser was electric between the pipes allowing only one goal throughout the contest as Fitchburg State withstood a tough 59-28 deficit in shots. The Falcons were precise in their shooting, converting 4 of their 28 attempts (1-of-7 PP), while holding the Beacons scoreless over nine power-play opportunities.

BOBBY LEISER

For the second straight contest, Fitchburg State received a solid offensive effort from senior Andrew Jones (Franklin, Mass./Walpole Express) who connected for the game-winning marker at 18:42 of the second period. Sophomore Trevor Lawler (Fitchburg, Mass./New England Jr. Huskies) erased an early 1-0 deficit for the Falcons with a power-play marker at the 7:44 mark before Jones connected the eventual game winner, his third of the season, just 11 minutes later.

Fitchburg State continued its offensive momentum in the third period, touching the back of the net twice to clinch its seventh victory of the season. Freshman Shawn Bradley (Tewksbury, Mass./Central Catholic) started the Falcons third period scoring with his first collegiate goal off helpers from Cory Callen (Annadale, N.J./Oswego State) and Nick Zaino (Duryea, Pa./CD Selects), before sophomore Brett Provost (Ludlow, Mass./Hartford Jr. Wolfpack) capped the game's offense with his first tally of the season at 9:25.

Provost (1 goal, 1 assist) and Callen (2 assists) paced the Fitchburg State attack with two points apiece, while junior Thomas McAleer (East Islip, N.Y./New York Bobcats), senior Kevin McCready (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Mohawk CC), classmate Chris Riggs (Sewell, N.J./Fort Vancouver Pioneers) and sophomore Curtis Nikitas (Fitchburg, Mass./Saint Bernards) all added helpers.         

Fitchburg State (7-3-0, 3-3-0 MASCAC) will hit the ice again next Tuesday as it travels to Becker College at 8:30 p.m. UMass Boston (7-3-0, 3-2-0 ECAC East) will host Connecticut College on Friday at 7 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Fitchburg State 4, UMass Boston 1

Scoring:
1st Period: UMB: Travis Daniel (Eric Tufman, Anthony Fitti), 6:57;
2nd Period: FIT: Trevor Lawler (Cory Callen, Chris Riggs), 7:44; FIT: Andrew Jones (Curtis Nikitas, Brett Provost), 18:42;   
3rd Period: FIT: Shawn Bradley (Callen, Nick Zaino), 7:29; FIT: Provost (Thomas McAleer, Kevin McCready), 9:25;
Goaltending: FIT: Bobby Leiser (60:00), 58 saves; UMB: Thomas Speer (57:44), 24 saves;
Shots On Goal: FIT: 28; UMB: 59