Fitchburg State Stuns #11 Elmira, 2-1 (OT)

Leiser propels Falcons to shootout victory with remarkable 47 save performance

NORTHFIELD, Vt. (January 6, 2012) – The Fitchburg State ice hockey team stunned #11 ranked Elmira College this afternoon, defeating the Soaring Eagles, 2-1 in an overtime shootout during first round action of the 2012 Northfield Savings Bank Invitational hosted by Norwich University.

With the shootout victory, Fitchburg State (3-6-2, 2-3-1 MASCAC) advances to tomorrow's championship game vs. the winner of GAME 2 between #1 ranked Norwich University and Morrisville State. The Eagles (7-5-1, 5-0-0 ECAC West) will battle the loser of GAME 2 at 4 p.m. in the consolation round.

After a pair of misses from both teams in the first round of the shootout, Fitchburg State took the upper-hand quickly thereafter as junior Justin Quinn (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) found the back of the net on back-handed shot that flipped just under the cross bar. Elmira evened the shootout with a good attempt from Darcy Valiancourt (Bonfield, ON/Innisfil Lakers), but newcomer Joseph Caveney (Fitchburg, Mass./UMass Lowell) provided the eventual game-winning tally in next round of shots with a wrister from his forehand side.

Elmira would miss its next attempt in the shootout as senior Bobby Leiser (Monroe, N.Y./New York Applecore) secured the Falcon victory with a pad save on Rick Acorn's (Barrie, ON/CouchichingTerriers) attempt. Despite being out-shot 48-16 in the contest, Fitchburg State road the pads of Leiser throughout the night as the senior net-minder totaled 47 saves on the evening.

Leiser's counterpart, Darren McDonald (Sittsville, ON/Nepean Raiders) was also solid for the Eagles, holding Fitchburg State to just one goal during regulation. McDonald finished with 15 saves for Elmira, despite falling to 6-4-1 on the season.

In the first period, sophomore Matt Owczaarczak (West Seneca, N.Y./Buffalo Jr. Sabres) gave the Soaring Eagles the early advantage as the second-year forward hit home for his first goal of the season late in the first stanza. Owczaarczak took advantage of a Falcon turnover in the Elmira end and connected just seconds later to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead at the 16:02 mark.

Fitchburg State pressured early in the second period with a pair of strong scoring opportunities. Junior Curtis Nikitas (Leominster, Mass./Saint Bernards) and senior Thomas McAleer (Long Island, N.Y./New York Bobcats) found themselves with a 2-0 breakaway at the 2:10 mark, but a sliding save by McDonald kept the Green and Gold off the board. Just 0:16 later, the Falcons created another scoring chance, this time knotting the score at 1-1 with McAleer's sixth goal of the season.  

Both teams were held scoreless over the final 25 minutes of the contest, but  Elmira did test the Fitchburg State defense with 17 shots on net. Leiser and the Falcons defense stood strong and fought off an Eagles power play in the overtime period, thus setting up the shootout heroics.

Friday January 6, 2012

GAME 1: #11 Fitchburg State 2, Elmira 1 Final OT/SO
GAME 2: #1 Norwich vs. Morrisville State, 7 p.m.

Saturday January 7, 2012

GAME 3: Elmira vs. Loser GAME 2, 4 p.m.
GAME 4: Fitchburg State vs. Winner GAME 2, 7 p.m.