Westfield State Shoots Past Fitchburg State, 7-5

Threlkeld posts four assists in Falcons MASCAC setback to Owls

WESTFIELD, Mass. (February 17, 2011) - Senior center Dennis Zak scored three goals, all in the second period, and had two assists to lead the Westfield State University ice hockey team to a 7-5 MASCAC victory over Fitchburg State University this evening.

With the victory, Westfield State improves to 5-15-1 overall and 4-10-1 in the MASCAC, while Fitchburg State falls to 13-8-1 overall and 7-7-1 in the conference.

The Owls jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on goals from freshman Vince Perreault and sophomore Lucas Romero, but Fitchburg State registered three unanswered markers to take a 3-2 lead early in the second period. Senior Kevin McCready (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Mohawk CC) put the Falcons on the board at 15:34 of the first period before junior Travis Bertolotti (Miller Place, N.Y./New York Bobcats) knotted the score at 2-2 with 31 seconds remaining in the stanza.

Senior Chris Riggs (Sewell, N.J./Fort Vancouver Pioneers) gave Fitchburg State its first lead of the contest just 1:21 into the second frame, but Zak then ripped off three consecutive goals over a six-minute span to put the Owls on top, 5-3.

The Falcons closed out the second period scoring on a Bryan Canter (Anchorage, AK/Helena Bighorns) goal to make it 5-4 and notched an early third period goal from Curtis Nikitas (Fitchburg, Mass./Saint Bernards) to tie the game at 5-5. Westfield State answered the Fitchburg State comeback just two minutes later as freshman Adam Baldassarre scored the game-winning goal at the 9:35 mark and Perreault added an empty netter with nine seconds remaining to seal the victory for the Owls.

Westfield State senior goalie Ray Monroe recorded 38 saves in the victory for the Owls, while Fitchburg State net-minder, senior Robert Vorse (Leominster, Mass./Bay State Breakers) had 33 stops for the Falcons.

Fitchburg State (13-8-1, 7-7-1 MASCAC) will hit the ice again on Saturday as it travels to Worcester State at 7:30 p.m. Westfield State (5-15-2, 4-10-1 MASCAC) will travel to Salem State University on Saturday at 2 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Westfield State 7, Fitchburg State 5 

Scoring:
1st Period: WES: Vince Perreault (Dennis Zak), 3:06; WES: Lucas Romero (Pat Nelson, Jimmy Alexander), 9:23; FIT: Kevin McCready (Kris Threlkeld, Chris Riggs), 15:34; FIT: Travis Bertolotti (Erik Trahan, Cory Callen), 19:29;  
2nd Period: FIT: Riggs (McCready, Threlkeld), 1:21; WES: Zak (Perreault), 3:23; WES: Zak (Dave Ciminelli, Ray Monroe), 7:13; WES: Zak (Adam Baldassarre), 9:35; WES: Bryan Canter (Threlkeld, Callen), 13:19;
3rd Period: FIT: Curtis Nikitas (Threlkeld), 7:26; WES: Baldassarre (Perreault, Zak), 12:03; WES: Perreault (Jimmy Alexander, Billy Miller), 19:51;
Goaltending: FIT: Robert Vorse (59:27), 33 saves; WES: Ray Monroe (60:00), 38 saves;
Shots On Goal: FIT: 43; WES: 40