Fitchburg State Rallies Past Southern New Hampshire, 5-3

Falcons post three goals in third period to earn first victory of the 2011-12 season

FITCHBURG, Mass. (November 11, 2011) –  The Fitchburg State ice hockey team recorded three goals in the final period of play to rally past Southern New Hampshire University in first round action of the 2011-12 IC Federal Credit Union Shootout this evening.

With the victory, Fitchburg State (1-1-0, 0-0-0 MASCAC) advances to tomorrow's championship round to face Wentworth at 4 p.m. Southern New Hampshire (0-3-0, 0-0-0 NE-10) will battle Franklin Pierce in the consolation round at 1 p.m.

Trailing 3-2 heading into the third period of play, Fitchburg State found its offensive groove in the final frame, posting a trio of scores for its first victory of the season. Senior Kris Threlkeld (Centerville, Ohio/CD Selects) kick-started the Falcons offensive surge, knotting the score at 3-3 just 6:10 into the period. FrSophomore Nick Zaino (Duryea, Pa./CD Selects) added the go-ahead marker eight minutes later, using assists from freshman Carlo DiPiazza (Ridgewood, N.J./Connecticut Jr. Wolfpack) and junior Justin Quinn (Braintree, Mass./Briantree), while classmate Trevor Lawler (Fitchburg, Mass./New England Jr. Huskies) iced the contest with an empty-netter at 19:26.

Fitchburg State opened a 1-0 lead early in the first period as senior Thomas McAleer (Long Island, N.Y./New York Bobcats) collected an unassisted tally in the 18th minute of the game, but Southern New Hampshire responded with three goals in the second stanza to boast a 3-2 lead at the break. Freshman Dane Caracino (Belmont, Mass./New Hampton School) put the Penmen on the board first at 4:26 of the period, while junior Chris Hickey (Gilford, N.H./Bishop Brady) knotted the score at 19:30 with a score off a two-man power play. Freshman TJ Bond (Nashua, N.H./New Hampton School) then gave Southern New Hampshire its first lead of the contest with an unassisted marker just 0:19 later. Freshman Sean Loebs (Cresskill, N.J./Connecticut Jr. Wolfpack) scored the lone goal of the period for the Falcons.

In the third period, Fitchburg State dominated play en route to its comeback victory as the Falcons posted a commanding 17-9 in shots and two power play attempts. For the contest, Fitchburg State held a slim 32-30 margin in targets, while Southern New Hampshire converted two of their seven power plays.

In net, sophomore Randy Wolcott (East Haven, Conn./Wisconsin-Stevens Point) earned his first victory in the Fitchburg State uniform, totaling 27 saves in the complete game effort, while sophomore Tyler Holske (Attleboro, Mass./South Shore Kings) stopped 27 shots for the visiting Penmen.

2011-12 IC Federal Credit Union Shootout

November 11, 2011
GAME 1: Wentworth 5, Franklin Pierce 2 FINAL
GAME 2: Fitchburg State 5, Southern N.H. 3 FINAL

November 12, 2011
GAME 3: Franklin Pierce (0-3-0) vs. Southern N.H. (0-3-0), 1 p.m.
GAME 4: Wentworth (1-1-0) vs. Fitchburg State (1-1-0), 4 p.m.