Plymouth State Doubles Up Fitchburg State, 4-2
FITCHBURG, Mass. - The Fitchburg State University hockey team hosted its second annual ‘Pink the Rink’ night at the Wallace Civic Center, dropping a 4-2 decision to Plymouth State in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this evening.
Fretz and Johannesson net one goal each for the Falcons in MASCAC setback
FITCHBURG, Mass. - The Fitchburg State University hockey team hosted its second annual 'Pink the Rink' night at the Wallace Civic Center, dropping a 4-2 decision to Plymouth State in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this evening.
'Pink the Rink,' a fundraiser by the Cup Crusaders and local businesses, raises money to support the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer research. Last year, over $10,000 was raised during the event.
Prior to the game, Fitchburg State University honored the class president of 1983, Maura Sullivan, an elementary school teacher of 30 years who was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2016. After receiving swift treatment and surgery at Lahey Medical Center in Peabody, Massachusetts, Sullivan is cancer-free.
Sullivan's support team – husband Rich and many other friends and family members - were in attendance during the ceremonial puck-drop delivered by the Fitchburg State alum and cancer survivor.
Plymouth State got on the board early in the first – three minutes and 54 seconds into the game - as senior Dan Dupell fed the rubber from behind the Falcon's net, up to sophomore Ludvig Steenberg in front, who buried the opening goal just inside the far-post for the 1-0 margin.
Nine minutes later, the Panthers doubled their lead, this time with a 3-on-2 breakaway as sophomore Ryan Stevens charged down the left-side of the ice before centering his pass to Tommy Dowell. Dowell, from the right face-off dot, quickly fired a shot near side for his third tally of the season to make the score 2-0 after one period of play.
The Green, Pink and Gold were able to cut into the deficit (2-1) early in the second period when sophomore forward Michael Fretz - inside the attacking zone – maneuvered past a Panther defender and scored his sixth tally of the season.
With seven minutes left in the second, Plymouth State got the goal back as senior defenseman Tord Thorsen sent a shot on net from the point, getting it to trickle into the goal to pick up his first goal of the year – unassisted for the 3-1 edge.
Fitchburg State had a quick response (3-2) three minutes later, while at the end of a 5-on-3 power play. With just three seconds left on the advantage, sophomore Connor McPherson slapped it through traffic in front of the net on to the stick of senior Jon Johannesson, who redirected it into the back of the net for his third goal of the season.
In the final stanza, the Panthers added an insurance goal with 15:34 left in the contest, O'Brien won the faceoff at the right dot, passing it over to senior Michael Economos directly in front of the net, who wristed a shot just under the cross bar for his team-leading 11th marker, resulting in the 4-2 final.
Throughout the contest, the teams were locked with 32 shots apiece, while Fitchburg State converted 1-of-8 opportunities with the advantage. In net, Panthers sophomore Evan Morelli made 30 saves in a complete game effort, while Falcons sophomore Kirby Saari finished with 28 stops in 57:45 minutes of action.
Next up, Plymouth State (10-5-2, 8-1-1 MASCAC) travels to Worcester State on January 26th at 8:30 P.M. for its second-consecutive conference tilt. Fitchburg State (7-9-1, 4-6-1 MASCAC) hosts MASCAC-foe UMass-Dartmouth on the same day at 7:00 P.M.
Release Courtesy of Fitchburg State student journalist Kyle Prudhomme