Ice Hawks Downed By Fitchburg State
FITCHBURG, Mass. (January 6, 2010) - Fitchburg State registered seven unanswered goals to overcome a 3-0 deficit midway through the second period and post its sixth victory of the season as the Falcons defeated Becker College, 7-3 in non-conference ice hockey action this evening.
Fitchburg State received a pair of two goal efforts from freshman John Vets (Hamden, Conn./Hartford Jr. Wolfpack) and sophomore Bryan Canter (Anchorage, AK/Helena Bighorns), while newcomer Tucker Callen (Annadale, N.J./Wagner) led all scorers with three assists. Seniors Patrick Dolan (St. Louis, MO/St. Louis Jr. Blues) and Andrew Hutton (Brewster, Mass./Boston Harbor Wolves) were also solid with a pair of helpers each, while rookie Curtis Nikitas (Fitchburg, Mass./Saint Bernards) collected his first collegiate score.
Becker opened the contest with an early 3-0 lead midway through the second frame as the Hawks connected for a pair of goals in the second and a solo marker in the first. Freshman Mark Lotito (State Island, N.Y./NY Bobcats) kick started the Hawks with his second goal of the season at 7:11 of the first, while Branden Parkhouse (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Helena Jr. Bighorns) and Jonathan Gould (Hudson, Mass./Winchendon School) added a set of scores in the second.
Junior Chris Riggs (Sewell, N.J./Fort Vancouver Pioneers) broke Fitchburg State's, five-period scoring silence late in the second frame as the veteran forward connected for his sixth score to ignited the Falcons' seven goal scoring flurry.
Fitchburg State opened the third on a tear, registering five goals in the first 9:47 of action. Nikitas continued the Falcons offense with his first score of his career just 1:13 into the period, while fellow rookie John Vets added back-to-back markers and the eventual game-winner at the 5:27 mark. Sophomore Kris Threlkeld (Centerville, Ohio/CD Selects) tacked on an insurance goal for the Falcons midway through the period, while Canter wrapped up the Falcons scoring barrage with consecutive scores over an eight minute span.
Fitchburg State dominated the offensive front with a 47-31 advantage in shots, while out-shooting the Hawks 17-7 in the final frame. Junior Robert Vorse (Leominster, Mass./Bay State Breakers) stopped 28 shots in the complete game effort for the Falcons, while senior Tony Stoehr (De Pere, Wis./Wisconsin River Falls) posted 34 saves in 49 minutes of work for the Hawks.
Fitchburg State (6-3-1, 4-2-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Tuesday as it travels to New England College for a match starting at 7 p.m. Becker (5-7-1, 3-2-0 ECAC NE) will hit the ice again on Saturday as it travels to Assumption College at 8:30 p.m.
