FITCHBURG, Mass. – Fitchburg State University scored the go-ahead goal with less than eight minutes in regulation to slip past Plymouth State University, 2-1, in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey action at Wallace Civic Center on Thursday night.
After a scoreless first period, the Falcons snuck a rebound just inside the left post to take the lead midway through the second. The hosts would retain the lead into the third period, but sophomore
Will Pray (Prague, Czech Republic) converted a perfect feed from classmate
Severi Sulonen (Turku, Finland) during a power play midway through the frame to even the score at 1-1.
The Falcons answered back roughly four minutes later when a long shot was redirected into the goal and, despite holding a lopsided shot advantage in the stanza, PSU was unable to rally.
Plymouth State slips to 17-6-0 (14-2-0 MASCAC), while the Falcons jump to 10-10-1 (6-7-1 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, Fitchburg State 2
- Plymouth State (17-6-0, 14-2-0 MASCAC)
- Fitchburg State (10-10-1, 6-7-1 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- Action went back-and-forth in the opening period. PSU killed off a pair of penalties, with junior Brandon Shantz (San Antonio, Texas) making a handful of big stops and sophomores Eddie Mulligan (Lincoln, R.I.) and Fitzy Somerville (Medford, Mass.) coming up with key blocks to keep the game scoreless.
- The Falcons deflected a pass in their defensive zone that led to a 3-on-2 breakout. Shantz made the initial stop, but PSU was unable to clear the rebound and a Fitchburg State skater just squeezed it between the post and Shantz's shoulder to make it 1-0 with 10:42 left in the frame.
- The hosts carried the one-goal margin into the third period.
- Plymouth State finally broke through during a power play midway through the third. Sulonen whipped a diagonal pass to Pray, who settled and fired past the Falcons' goalie to even the score with 11:48 left to play.
- Fitchburg State responded just over four minutes later when a shot from the blue line was redirected into the net with 7:38 left on the clock, and PSU was unable to answer back.
By the Numbers:
- Pray's tally was his seventh of the year.
- Sulonen and senior Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) picked up the assists.
- With the point, Stuckless now sits at 98 for his career. He's looking to become the 17th player to reach 100 points in a PSU uniform.
- PSU held a 28-22 advantage in shots, including a dominating 15-2 edge in the third period.
- The Panthers' penalty kill was outstanding, holding Fitchburg State to 0-for-5. PSU finished 1-for-2 on the night.
- Shantz recorded 20 saves in the setback.
- Plymouth State had been unbeaten in the last nine matchups in the series, though the Panthers needed overtime to get past Fitchburg State in their earlier season meeting.
- Despite the setback, PSU has secured a first round home game for the upcoming MASCAC Tournament. The playoffs will feature an eight-team bracket this year. Plymouth State is currently assured of at least the third seed.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State has an exhibition against NCAA Division I Stonehill College on Friday (Feb. 14), before closing out the regular season with two league games next week.
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