Fitchburg State Blows Past Assumption, 9-3

Leiser earns fourth straight victory with 26 saves in net

WORCESTER, Mass. (January 6, 2011) – The Fitchburg State ice hockey team registered eight goals over the final 40 minutes of play to collect a 9-3 non-conference victory over Division II Assumption College this evening.

Fitchburg State broke a 1-1 tie early in the second period, using a four goal outburst in the second frame. Junior Bryan Canter (Anchorage, AK/Helena Bighorns) and senior Kevin McCready (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Mohawk CC) sparked the Falcons rally with a pair of goals over span of 1:07, before freshman Spencer Syvertson (Wasilla, AK/Minnesota-Crookston) and sophomore Cory Callen (Annadale, N.J./Oswego State) connected for back-to-back scores later in the period.

In the third period, Fitchburg State continued its offensive momentum, netting three consecutive power-play goals to open the stanza. Canter hit home again just 47 seconds into the period, using feeds from Billy Pescosolido (Framingham, Mass./Walpole Express) and junior Kris Threlkeld (Centerville, Ohio/CD Selects), before senior Chris Riggs (Sewell, N.J./Fort Vancouver Pioneers) and classmate Erik Trahan (Manville, R.I./Winchendon School) notched a pair of tallies for an 8-2 lead. Junior Thomas McAleer (East Islip, N.Y./New York Bobcats) capped the Fitchburg State scoring with his fourth marker of the season at the 11:02 mark.

Fitchburg State used a trio of three point efforts as Canter (2 goals, 1 assist), McCready (1 goal, 2 assists) and Threlkeld (3 assists) all combined for nine points. Callen was also strong with one goal and one assist, while Pescosolido paced the Falcon attack with a pair of helpers.

The Falcons held a slim 30-29 advantage while junior Bobby Leiser (Monroe, N.Y./New York Applecore) collected his fourth straight victory in net. Leiser stopped 26 shots through 53 minutes of work while sophomore Matt Capucci (Pepperell, Mass./Saint Bernards) closed out the contest for Fitchburg State, allowing only one goal over a six minute span.

Fitchburg State (9-3-0, 3-3-0 MASCAC) will hit the ice again on Tuesday as it travels to New England College at 7 p.m. Assumption (6-8-0, 2-1-0 ECAC NE) will host Nichols College on Saturday at 4:35 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 9, Assumption 3

Scoring:
1st Period: FIT: Kevin McCready (Kris Threlkeld, Shawn Bradley), 1:34; ASM: Taylor Larsen (Pat O'Kane, Ross White), 19:39;
2nd Period: FIT: Bryan Canter (Cory Callen, Billy Pescosolido), 6:34; FIT: McCready, 7:41; ASM: Kevin Glanzman (Mike Janson), 9:51; FIT: Spencer Syvertson, 13:53; FIT: Callen (Canter), 17:37;   
3rd Period: FIT: Canter (Threlkeld, Pescosolido), 0:47; FIT: Chris Riggs (Justin Quinn), 3:28; FIT: Erik Trahan, 4:03; FIT: Thomas McAleer (McCready, Threlkeld), 11:02; ASM: O'Kane (Nick Mattiello, Matt Calos), 16:07;
Goaltending: FIT: Bobby Leiser (53:22), 26 saves; Matt Cappucci (6:38), no saves; ASM: Nick Blanchette (40:00), 15 saves; Bobby Bowden (4:03), two saves; Jordan Sweigart (15:57), four saves;
Shots On Goal: FIT: 30; ASM: 29