Fitchburg State Squeaks Past Becker, 3-2 (OT)
Pescosolido lifts Falcons with game-winning overtime marker
MARLBOROUGH, Mass. (January 4, 2011) – Senior Billy Pescosolido (Framingham, Mass./Walpole Express) connected for an overtime goal with just seven seconds remaining in the frame to lead Fitchburg State to 3-2 non-conference victory over Becker College this evening.
Fitchburg State got on the board 13:16 into the first period when junior Bryan Canter (Anchorage, AK./Helena Bighorns) fed sophomore Curtis Nikitas (Fitchburg, Mass./Saint Bernards), who scored top shelf for the lone goal of the first period.
BILLY PESCOSOLIDO |
The Falcons held a 1-0 advantage until early in the third period when David Graham (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) rebounded a Ron Pavia (Rehoboth, Mass.) shot, tipping it into the net to tie the game at 1-1. Fitchburg State answered back in the fifth minute when senior Erik Trahan (Manville, R.I./Winchendon School) scored through a screen in front, giving the Falcons a 2-1 lead. The Hawks sent the game into overtime in the 14th minute when Pavia connected with Graham for the second time, tying the game a two all.
Just when it seemed the two teams would skate to a tie, Fitchburg State answered the call as Pescosolido took shot from behind the Hawks net, redirecting it off Becker goalie Jake Rosenthal's (Wantagh, N.Y.) skate for the game-winner. Pescosolido's fourth marker of the season gave the Falcons their eighth victory of the year with just seven ticks remaining on the clock.
Fitchburg State goalie Bobby Leiser (Monroe, N.Y./New York Applecore) made 37 saves in net to earn his third consecutive victory, while Rosenthal made 30 saves in the losing effort. With the loss the Hawks fall to 5-6-2 on the year. Becker held a 39-32 advantage in shots, while Fitchburg State capitalized with the lone power-play score.
Fitchburg State (8-3-0, 3-3-0 MASCAC) will hit the ice again on Thursday as it travels to Assumption College at 7:35 p.m. Becker (5-6-2, 2-0-2 ECAC NE) will host Worcester State on Thursday at 12:50 p.m.
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Fitchburg State 3, Becker 2 (OT)
Team |
1 |
2 |
3 |
OT |
F |
Fitchburg State (8-3-0, 3-3-0 MASCAC) |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
Becker (5-6-2, 2-0-2 ECAC NE) |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
Scoring:
1st Period: FIT: Curtis Nikitas (Bryan Canter), 13:16;
2nd Period: none
3rd Period: BEC: David Graham (Korby Anderson, Branden Parkhouse), 0:16; FIT: Erik Trahan (Kris Threlkeld, Cory Callen), 5:57; BEC: Graham (Parkhouse, Anderson), 14:19;
OT: FIT: Billy Pescosolido (Chris Riggs, Kevin McCready), 4:53;
Goaltending: FIT: Bobby Leiser (64:53), 37 saves; BEC: Jake Rosenthal (64:53), 30 saves;
Shots On Goal: FIT: 33; BEC: 39