Fitchburg State Doubles Up Plymouth State, 8-4

Quinn posts a pair of markers in Falcons key MASCAC victory

WATERVILLE VALLEY, N.H. (December 10, 2009) -Freshman Justin Quinn (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) scored two goals Thursday evening as Fitchburg State doubled up Plymouth State, 8-4, in MASCAC action at Waterville Valley Arena.

JUSTIN QUINN

Plymouth State had its three-game win streak stopped, dropping to 6-2 overall, while Fitchburg State won its second in a row and moved to 4-2-1. Both teams are now 3-2 in MASCAC play.

The host Panthers scored two goals in the first 30 seconds of the game but couldn't maintain the lead, as Fitchburg State tallied four unanswered goals in the first frame to grab a 4-2 lead. PSU got one back late in the opening period and another in the first minute of the second to even the score (4-4), but the Falcons held the Panthers sticks silent the rest of the way. Fitchburg State netted the eventual game-winner with a power play goal in the final minute of the second, while the Falcons iced the contest with three unanswered third-period markers.

Senior Andrew Hutton (Brewster, Mass./Boston Harbor Wolves) junior Erik Trahan (Manville, R.I./Winchendon School) and sophomore Thomas McAleer (East Islip, N.Y./New York Bobcats) all collected a goal and an assist for the winners, while junior Chris Riggs (Sewell, N.J./Fort Vancouver Pioneers) picked up three helpers. Sophomores Kris Threlkeld (Centerville, Ohio/CD Selects), Bryan Canter (Anchorage, AK/Helena Bighorns) and Kevin McCready (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Mohawk CC) also lit the lamp for the Falcons.

Sophomore Bryan Kriner (Newport, R.I.) led the Panthers with a pair of goals and an assist, scoring one in the first minute of the first period and one in the opening minute of the second period.  Freshman Richie Zobak (Evergreen Park, Ill.) scored for PSU 11 seconds into the contest, and sophomore Jake Curtin (Concord, N.H.) added a goal late in the opening frame.

Fitchburg State finished with a slight 29-28 advantage in shots on goal.  Falcons junior goalie Robert Vorse (Leominster, Mass./Bay State Breakers) earned the win by making 24 saves, while Panther junior Erik Shields (Lebanon, Maine) took the loss with a 21-save effort.

Fitchburg State (4-2-1, 3-2-0 MASCAC) will be in action again on Saturday as it travels to UMass Dartmouth at 4:30 p.m. Plymouth State (6-2-0, 3-2-0 MASCAC) will visit Westfield State College on Saturday at 5:35 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 8, Plymouth State 4

Scoring
First Period: PSU: Richie Zobak (Matt Aponte), 0:11; PSU: Bryan Kirner (Sean Buckley, Aponte), 0:23; FIT: Justin Quinn, 4:16; FIT: Kris Threlkeld (Chris Riggs, Andrew Hutton), 5:33; FIT: Hutton (Erik Trahan, Riggs), 9:21; FIT: Bryan Canter (Patrick Dolan, Quinn), 11:19; PSU: Jake Curlin (Kriner, Chris Chambers), 16:51;
Second Period: PSU: Kriner (Chambers, Foley), 0:27; FIT: Trahan (John Vets),19:28;
Third Period: FIT: Quinn (Thomas McAleer, Chris Costigan), 1:44; FIT: Kevin McCready (Vets, Trevor Lawler), 14:40; FIT: McAleer (Riggs, Costigan), 16:52;
Goaltending: FIT: Robert Vorse (60:00), 24 saves; PSU: Erik Shields (60:00), 21 saves;
Shots: FIT: 29; PSU: 28