Stolpe, Laviolette with goals for the Panthers 

            PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Freshman Leo Stolpe (Stockholm, Sweden) and junior Peter Laviolette (Brentwood, Tenn.) each scored, but Fitchburg State University rallied from a pair of one-goal deficits in the third period to tie Plymouth State University, 2-2, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey game at Hanaway Rink on Saturday night.

            The battle for first place in the league didn't disappoint in a fast-paced, hard-hitting clash between the two teams. PSU took a 1-0 lead on Stolpe's goal in the second and Laviolette made it 2-1 just minutes after the Falcons tied the game in the third period. The visitors struck back quickly again to knot the score at 2-2 and neither goaltender would give an inch as the teams skated to the tie.

            Plymouth State moves to 5-7-2 overall and 5-1-1 in the MASCAC, while Fitchburg goes to 6-5-2 and 4-1-2 in conference play. The Panthers retained their one-point lead over Fitchburg State for the top spot in the league.

            The Basics:

            Plymouth State 2, Fitchburg State 2 (OT)

            Plymouth State (5-7-2, 5-1-1 MASCAC)

            Fitchburg State (6-5-2, 4-1-2 MASCAC)

            How it Happened.

• Plymouth State had the first good scoring chance at the 13:30 mark of the opening period when sophomore Grant DeWitt (Bowling Green, Ohio) whipped a pass to a streaking Laviolette in the slot, but Fitchburg junior goalie Brian McGrath (Worcester, Mass.) was up to the challenge.
• The Falcons had a pair of power play opportunities late in the period with their best chance coming when freshman Hunter Fortin (Westerville, Ohio) tipped a shot by sophomore Ryan Murphy (Wayzata, Minn.), but the puck dribbled wide of the net.
• PSU broke the ice at the 9:37 mark of the second. Senior Drake Longaker (Gilroy, Calif.) fired a shot from just inside the blue line and freshman Leo Stolpe (Stockholm, Sweden) tipped it past McGrath.
• Fitchburg nearly answered a minute later as freshman Wyatt Wilmshurst (Massena, N.Y.) skated in alone, but senior Andreas Pettersson (Trollhattan, Sweden) made the save.
• Freshman Marcus Seidl (Stockholm, Sweden) nearly made it 2-0 on a quick shot off a faceoff, but his blast rang the post.
• Fitchburg evened the score on its third power play chance of the game when Murphy scored on the rebound of a tipped shot at the 7:48 mark of the third.
• PSU regained the lead just 2:30 later as sophomore Mike McPherson (Somerville, Mass.) and Laviolette skated in on a two-on-one and Laviolette beat McGrath high to the stick side.
• The Falcons had the answer a minute later as senior Christopher Vicario (Cranston, R.I.) tipped in a shot from the point by freshman Joshua Miller (St. Augustine, Fla.) with 8:46 left to play.
• Neither team was able to pot the game winner in overtime as the teams settled for the tie.

            Inside the Numbers:

• With six goals on the season, Stolpe is just one behind team-leader Myles Abbate (Norwell, Mass.), while Laviolette now has five goals on the year.
• McPherson is tied for the team lead with six helpers this season.
• Pettersson moved to 5-3-2 after making 27 saves, while McGrath made 42 saves to go to 6-2-2 on the year.
• Plymouth State was held scoreless over three power play chances, while the Falcons went 1-for-3 with the man advantage.
• The Panthers held a 44-29 advantage in shots.

            Up Next:

• PSU heads to Framingham State for another league contest on Thursday (Jan. 16) with puck-drop set for 7:30 p.m.
• The Falcons host Becker in non-conference action on Wednesday (Jan. 15) at 7:00 p.m.

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