Falcons Fly Past Owls In Conference Tilt

Harty nets one goal and two helpers for Green and Gold

Westfield, Mass. – The Fitchburg State ice hockey team defeated the Owls of Westfield State University, 4-1 this evening in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Amelia Ice Park Arena.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 4, Westfield State 1
Records: Fitchburg State (17-5-0, 14-3-0 MASCAC) I Westfield State (12-10-2, 7-8-2 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Westfield State grabbed a 1-0 lead midway through the opening the period as sophomore Cory Morris (Kahnawake, Que.) received a feed from senior Wyatt Lawrence (Sexsmith, Alberta) and junior Tanner Derby (Seabrook, N.H.) and fired a shot top shelf for his fifth marker on the season.

Fitchburg State knotted the score at 1-1 five minutes later when junior Wyatt Wilmshurst (Massena, N.Y.) converted with the man advantage, one timing a shot inside the near post for his seventh goal of the 2021-22 campaign with assists from classmates Hunter Fortin (Westerville, Ohio) and Rece Bergeman (Newark, Del.).

In the middle frame, the Falcons took the lead at the 7:40 mark with sophomore Cole Archambeault (Leominster, Mass.) settled a pass from freshman Thomas Harty (Billerica, Mass.) before blasting a shot into the upper left corner for his fourth tally of the year to make the score 2-10.

In the final period of play, Fitchburg State upped its margin with just over eight minutes remaining in the stanza as Harty collected a rebound of the stick of classmate Zackery Diamont (Billerica, Mass.) and deposited a shot five hole for his seventh score on the year to make the score 3-1.

The Green and Gold secured the victory with 1:09 left in regulation when Diamont buried an empty netter for his 11th goal on the year as Harty and newcomer Toivo Kramer (N.Y.) assisted on the play, resulting in the 4-1 final.

By the Numbers

• 41st meeting between the Falcons and the Owls on the ice with Fitchburg State 24-13-3 all-time when taking on Westfield State
• Fitchburg State held a 41-29 edge in shots
• Westfield State went 0-for-3 with the man advantage
• Senior Brian McGrath (Worcester, Mass.) stopped 28 shots for the Falcons
• Sophomore Valtteri Valtonen (Helsinki, Finland) made 37 saves for the Owls

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday when they host the Lancers of Worcester State for a MASCAC matchup, starting at 4:00PM. Owls will travel to UMass Dartmouth on the same date for a conference tilt at 3:00 PM.