FITCHBURG, Mass. – Junior
Brendahn Brawley (Morton, Pa.) made 36 saves, but Fitchburg State University skated to a 4-0 win over Plymouth State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey game at Wallace Civic Center on Tuesday night.
The Falcons scored single goals in each of the first two periods before capping the game with an empty-netter and Fitchburg State senior goaltender Brian McGrath (Worcester, Mass.) held the Panthers scoreless for the first time this season.
Plymouth State slips to 8-4-1 (5-1-1 MASCAC), while Fitchburg State moves to 7-4-0 and 5-2-0 in league play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, Fitchburg State 4
- Plymouth State (8-4-1, 5-1-1 MASCAC)
- Fitchburg State (7-4-0, 5-2-0 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- Both teams came out offensive-minded in the opening period with the teams combining for 30 shots.
- The Falcons went up late in the period when an initial shot went off the pipe and a Fitchburg State player poked the loose puck in through the legs of Brawley.
- PSU kept heavy zone pressure during a power play chance early in the second, but a game-tying by by graduate student JR Barone (West Chester, Pa.) was deflected just wide.
- Fitchburg State doubled the lead at 11:32 of the second period when junior Hunter Fortin (Westerville, Ohio) skated past a defender and was able to score on the backhand.
- Sophomore Jeromey Rancourt (Lewiston, Maine) skated in alone for a shorthanded bid midway through the third period, but his shot was turned aside.
- The hosts pushed the lead to 3-0 with 9:51 remaining in the third when freshman Oliver Cookson (Sheffield, Mass.) whipped a wrist shot to the top right corner on a 3-on-2 breakout.
- PSU had a prime chance to get back into the game during a five-minute power play, but McGrath kept the Panthers off the board to finish with 51 saves.
By the Numbers:
- Plymouth State owned a 51-40 advantage in shots.
- Neither team was able to cash in on the man advantage. PSU went 0-for-6, while the Falcons were 0-for-4.
- Graduate student Peter Laviolette (Longboat Key, Fla.) led the Panthers with nine shots.
- The Panthers dominated the faceoff circle, winning 42-of-61, highlighted by Rancourt winning 23-of-26.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host Worcester State University in MASCAC action on Thursday (Jan. 20) at 6:00 p.m.
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