Fitchburg State Edged by Owls, 2-1

FITCHBURG, Mass. - Fitchburg State University (0-4-2, 0-2-1 MASCAC) fell to Westfield State University (5-1, 3-0 MASCAC), 2-1, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) matchup on Thursday night at the Wallace Civic Center. 

Westfield State got on the board first when Dalton Jay broke up the Falcons power play with a steal on a cross-ice pass. The junior forward broke free down the ice all alone and beat senior keeper Ryan Wysocki to give the guests an early 1-0 lead.

Fitchburg State would even the score in the final minute of play in the opening stanza when junior forward John Celli took a shot from the faceoff dot that ricocheted off an Owls defender and found the back of the twine.

Senior forward Frank Zuccaro put the Owls up for good at the 9:26 mark of the third period on a shot from just inside the hash marks on a feed from Dalton across the crease. Freshman defenseman Donovan Gardiner also was credited with an assist on the game-winning goal.

Overall, Wysocki recorded 40 saves, while his counterpart Ian Perrier made 23 stops in the winning effort.

The Owls held a 42-24 advantage on shots on net, while both teams could not convert on their lone power play opportunities.

Westfield State will return to action on Saturday as they travel to UMass Dartmouth at 4:30pm, while the Green & Gold visits Framingham State on the same night at 7:40pm.