Fitchburg State Battles Past Wentworth, 5-3

Hutton and Arsenault combine for eight points in key ECAC Northeast victory

FITCHBURG, Mass. (January 14, 2009) - Junior Andrew Hutton (Brewster, Mass./Boston Harbor Wolves) recorded four points on two goals and two assists as Fitchburg State defeated Wentworth, 5-3 in ECAC Northeast action this evening.

Senior Matt Arsenault (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) aided Hutton on the Fitchburg State attack with four points on four assists, while classmate Bob Kaloustian (Marlborough, Mass./Suffolk University) connected for two goals, including the game-winning score. Sophomore Erik Trahan (Manville, R.I./Winchendon School) added two assists for the Falcons, while freshman Thomas McAleer (East Islip, N.Y./New York Bobcats) chipped in with one goal.

Freshman Forest Ellis (Pembroke, N.H./Capital District) led the Wentworth offense with a team-high two points on two goals, while classmate Skylur Jameson (Long Beach, Calif./Wichita Falls) registered one score. Sophomore Kyle Richardson (San Jose, Calif./Wayne State University) chipped in with two assists.

Wentworth opened the match with an early 1-0 lead in the first period as Ellis connected for his first score of the game at the 12:42 mark. Fitchburg State controlled the tempo with 15 shots on net, but Ellis put the Leopards on top with the first score of the game off an assist from Richardson.

Fitchburg State fired back, scoring three times in the second frame, including Kaloustian's first goal of the match just 2:32 into the period. With the score knotted at 1-1, the Leopards rallied off two consecutive goals to grab a 3-1 advantage. Jameson found the net first for Wentworth, while Ellis capped the scoring drive with his second goal of the game.

The Falcons responded again as Hutton notched back-to-back goals in a 5:09 span to make the game a 3-3 deadlock. Hutton registered his first goal of the match at the 9:14 mark before capping the Falcons scoring surge with a power-play goal at 15:05.

In the third period, Fitchburg State took its first lead of the game as Kaloustian netted the eventual game-winner off assists from Trahan and sophomore Chris Riggs (Sewell, N.J./Fort Vancouver Pioneers). McAleer added an empty-net goal with 0:53 remaining in regulation to the seal the victory for the Falcons.

Fitchburg State out-shot Wentworth 36-30 in the contest, while converting 3-of-4 power-play opportunities. Freshman Bobby Leiser (Monroe, N.Y./New York Applecore) totaled 27 saves for the Falcons, while junior Justin Marriott (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Valley) collected 31 stops for the Leopards.

Fitchburg State (6-5-3, 3-2-1 ECAC NE) will travel to Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday at 2 p.m. Wentworth (7-5-0, 4-1-0 ECAC NE) will travel to Assumption College on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.3

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Fitchburg State 5, Wentworth 3

Scoring:
1^st Period: WIT: Forrest Ellis (Kyle Richardson), 12:42
2^nd Period: FIT: Bob Kaloustian (Matt Arsenault, Andrew Hutton), 2:32; WIT: Skylur Jameson (Tyler Medeiros, Alan Dionne), 5:47; WIT: Ellis (Derek Rupert, Richardson), 5:47; FIT: Hutton (Arsenault), 9:14; FIT: Hutton (Arsenault, Erik Trahan), 15:05;
3^rd Period: FIT: Kaloustian (Trahan, Chris Riggs), 14:57; FIT: Thomas McAleer (Hutton, Arsenault), 19:07
Goaltending: FIT: Bobby Leiser (60:00), 27 saves; WIT: Justin Marriott (60:00), 31 saves
Stars:
1^st Star - Andrew Hutton - FIT
2^nd Star - Bob Kaloustian - FIT
3^rd Star - Forrest Ellis - WIT