Fitchburg State Breezes Past Franklin Pierce, 9-3

Quinn and McAleer pace Falcons with seven combined points in season-opener

FITCHBURG, Mass. (November 12, 2010) – The Fitchburg State ice hockey team registered its first victory of the season as it downed Franklin Pierce University, 9-3 in opening round action of the 2010 IC Federal Credit Union Shootout this evening.  

JUSTIN QUINN

With the victory, Fitchburg State (1-0-0, 0-0-0 MASCAC) advances to Saturday's championship contest as it takes on Wentworth at 4 p.m. Franklin Pierce (0-5-0, 0-0-0 NE-10) will battle Assumption College in the consolation round tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Fitchburg State came out soaring in its first contest of the season, collecting a handful of scores in the opening ten minutes of the first period. Senior Kevin McCready (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Mohawk CC), junior Cory Callen (Annadale, N.J./Oswego State) and sophomore Justin Quinn (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) gave the Falcons an early 3-0 advantage with consecutive scores over the first 11:41 of the match before senior captain Billy Pescosolido (Framingham, Mass./Walpole Express) capped the first stanza scoring with a marker at 17:18.

In the second period, the Falcons continued its offensive outburst, collecting four more goals in the frame. Junior Thomas McAleer (East Islip, N.Y./New York Bobcats) ignited the Fitchburg State rally with his first marker of the game just 3:53 into the period, while Quinn, sophomore Curtis Nikitas (Fitchburg, Mass./Saint Bernards) and junior Travis Bertolotti (Miller Place, N.Y./New York Bobcats) each followed suit over the next 14 minutes of play. Franklin Pierce got on the board early in the period as Dino Federico (Canton, Mass./Walpole Express) and Anthony Chighisola (Whitman, Mass./Williston Northampton) found the back of the net, but the Raves faced an 8-2 deficit heading into the third session.

Over the final frame, Fitchburg State iced the contest, playing possession style offense and adding a tally in the opening two minutes. Sophomore Trevor Lawler (Fitchburg, Mass./New England Jr. Huskies) scored the lone goal of the Falcons, using a feed from McAleer and Quinn, while Franklin Pierce's Sean Carroll (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Thunder Ridge) capped the game's scoring with his first score of the season at the 16:15 mark.

Fitchburg State dominated the tempo of the contest, using a commanding 64-27 advantage in shots on target. Junior Bobby Leiser (Monroe, N.Y./New York Applecore) picked up his first victory of the season for the Falcons, posting 24 saves over his complete game effort. Freshman Dale Adams (Gardner, Mass./Groton School) suffered the loss for the Ravens, yielding seven goals and 29 saves over roughly 30 minutes of work.

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Fitchburg State 9, Franklin Pierce 3 

Scoring:
1st Period: FIT: Kevin McCready (Billy Pescosolido), 6:00; FIT: Cory Callen (Jack Vets, Bryan Canter), 9:05; FIT: Justin Quinn (Thomas McAleer, Brett Provost), 11:41; FIT; Pescosolido (Vets), 17:18;
2nd Period: FIT: McAleer (Quinn), 3:53; FPU: Dino Federico (Anthony Chighisola, Pat Shortt), 5:39; FIT: Quinn (McCready, Chris Riggs), 8:29; FIT: Curtis Nikitas (Nick Zaino, Kris Threlkeld), 9:34; FPU: Chighisola (Federico, Bryan Colella), 15:31; FIT: Travis Bertolotti (Threlkeld, Trevor Lawler), 17:27;
3rd Period: FIT: Lawler (McAleer, Quinn), 1:27; FPU: Sean Carroll (Federico, Brendan McCarron), 16:15;
Goaltending: FIT: Bobby Leiser (60:00), 24 saves; FPU: Dale Adams (29:34),29 saves; Dave O'Brien (30:26), 26 saves;
Shots On Goal: FIT: 64; FPU: 27;