Strong Second Period Leads Fitchburg State Past Ice Hockey 5-1

Auburn, MA --- Fitchburg State used four second period goals - including two power play markers - to post a 5-1 victory over Worcester State in MASCAC men's ice hockey action this evening.

After an evenly paced first period Fitchburg State (2-3-1, 2-1 MASCAC) got off to a fast start in the second capitalizing twice on the man advantage to break the scoreless tie.

The first came when senior Joseph Caveney (Fitchburg, MA) found the back of the cage off a great feed from freshman Ryan Bedard (Derby Line, VT) at the 2:55 mark of the period.

Then freshman Nat Rojas (Elkridge, MD) collected his first collegiate goal as he was assisted by sophomore Sean Loebs (Cresskill, NJ) and senior Brett Provost (Ludlow, MA) just under four minutes later to give the Falcons 2-0 advantage.

Worcester State (0-6, 0-3 MASCAC) had their chances to cut into the lead when sophomore Nathan Stanley (Meriden, ID) was all alone behind the defense, but his shot rang the post keeping it a two goal contest.

Just minutes later the Lancers again had a golden opportunity during a double minor penalty as third-year Derek Serbon (Crown Point, IN) found himself in the crease only to be stone walled by FSU junior goaltender Randy Wolcott (East Haven, CT).

Fitchburg State would then collect two goals with under two minutes remaining in the middle frame to increase their lead.

Freshman Ryan Connolly (Wappingers Falls, NY) put the puck between the pipes giving the Green and Gold a three goal lead right before classmate Timmy Genova (Smithtown, NY) found the back of the net with just one second remaining in the stanza making it 4-0.

FSU kept that momentum going as junior Carlo DiPiazza (Ridgewood, NJ) netted his first goal of the campaign just 2:59 into the final period.

The Blue and Gold eventually ended Wolcott's bid at a shutout as Stanley got the puck past the goal line off great passing by sophomore classmates Taylor Laneville (Edmonds, WA) and Andrew Pierson (Clovis, CA) at the 13:57 mark for the 5-1 final.

Wolcott ended his night collecting 28 saves for the visitors as WSU junior Taylor Fant (Boise, ID) recorded 22 saves during the first two periods of play before he was relieved by freshman Salvatore Tecci (Franklin, MA) who turned aside 13 shots in the final frame.

Fitchburg State outshot Worcester State by a 40-29 margin and was also more successful on the power play converting 2-of-6 while the Lancers were 0-for-5 with the man advantage.

The Blue and Gold return to action in one week as they take on Assumption next Saturday at 5:40 PM as part of the Worcester City Cup hosted by Nichols College. The Falcons will next travel to Franklin Pierce on Thursday the 29th for a 7 PM affair.

Release Courtesy of Sports Information Graduate Assistant John Hanna