Fitchburg State Inches Past Worcester State, 3-2 (OT)

Falcons remain atop the MASCAC with seventh straight victory

WORCESTER, Mass. (January 28, 2010) - Sophomore Kevin McCready (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Mohawk CC) netted his seventh goal of the season in the overtime period to lift Fitchburg State to its seventh consecutive victory with a 3-2 MASCAC win over Worcester State College this evening.

McCready's overtime heroics did not take long as the rookie forward connected for his game-winning score just 0:49 into the period off classmate Trevor Lawler's (Fitchburg, Mass./New England Jr. Huskies) helper. With the victory, Fitchburg State earns its eighth conference win and remains in first place atop of the MASCAC standings.

The Falcons rallied back from one score down late in the third period as junior Andrew Jones (Franklin, Mass./Walpole Express) deposited the game-tying marker at the 13:25 mark for his second goal of the season. Freshman Tucker Callen (Annadale, N.J./Wagner) and Curtis Nikitas (Fitchburg, Mass./Saint Bernards) set up the game-tying marker with a pair of assists, while classmate John Vets (Hamden, Conn./Hartford Jr. Wolfpack) rounded out the Falcons scorers with a first period goal off a McCready helper.

Fitchburg State created many scoring opportunities, out-shooting the Lancers 53-27 in the contest. Junior Chris Wallin (Avon, Conn./Valley Forge Minutemen) led the Worcester State offense, scoring both Lancer goals, while McCready sparked the Falcons with one goal and one assist.

Neither team mustered a score off seven combined power-play opportunities as junior goaltender Robert Vorse (Leominster, Mass./Bay State Breakers) and Lancer net-minder Andrew Evans (Cromwell, Conn./MassConn Braves) each posted complete game efforts. Vorse collected his sixth victory of the season with 25 stops in net for the Falcons, while Evans totaled 50 saves for the Lancers.

Fitchburg State (12-3-1, 8-2-0 MASCAC) will hit the ice again Saturday as it hosts Plymouth State University at 4 p.m. Worcester State (5-10-0, 3-7-0 MASCAC) will host Westfield State on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 3, Worcester State 2 (OT)

Scoring
First Period: WOR: Chris Wallin (Mark Rintel, Justin Brownstein), 8:06; FIT: John Vets (Kevin McCready), 17:18;
Second Period: WOR: Wallin (Rintel, Eric Rutz), 4:49;
Third Period: FIT: Andrew Jones (Tucker Callen, Curtis Nikitas), 13:25
OT: FIT: Kevin McCready (Trevor Lawler), 0:49
Goaltending: FIT: Robert Vorse (60:49), 25 saves; WOR: Andrew Evans (60:49), 50 saves
Shots: FIT: 53; WOR: 27