Courtesy Fitchburg State Sports Information

FITCHBURG, Mass. (March 4, 2010) - Junior goaltender Robert Vorse (Leominster, Mass./Bay State Breakers) registered 21 saves in net as top-seeded Fitchburg State defeated fifth-seeded UMass Dartmouth, 3-2 in MASCAC Semifinal action this evening.

With the victory, Fitchburg State (19-5-1, 11-15-1 MASCAC) advances to the MASCAC Championship game where it will host Salem State College this Saturday at 2 p.m. UMass Dartmouth concludes it season with an overall record of 11-15-1 and a 5-12-1 mark in the conference.

Fitchburg State opened the contest with high-flying action, posting a 21-7 advantage in shots over the first frame. The line of Andrew Hutton (Brewster, Mass./Boston Harbor Wolves), Chris Riggs (Sewell, N.J./Fort Vancouver Pioneers and Kris Threlkeld (Centerville, Ohio/CD Selects) kicked things off, teaming up for the first marker of the game at the 7:43 mark as Hutton recorded his 12th goal of the season.

In the second, Fitchburg State continued to soar, exploding for two goals over the opening 3:32 of play. Sophomore Kevin McCready (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Mohawk CC) sparked the Falcons offense with his 13th marker just 1:55 into the stanza, while classmate Thomas McAleer (East Islip, N.Y./New York Bobcats) followed suit just 1:37 later with the eventual game-winner for his 11th score of the season.

UMass Dartmouth rallied back however, scoring twice throughout the third period to make it a one-goal contest with 0:46 remaining in regulation. Junior Adam Horgan (Clayton, N.C./Jersey Hitmen) broke the Corsairs' scoring silence midway through the third frame as he hit home a Todd Bartelson (Pepperell, Mass./Valley Jr. Warriors) and Joe Hill (Newburyport, Mass./Valley Jr. Warriors) feed, while sophomore Rob Dudley (Douglas, Mass./Middlesex School) tipped home Hill's slapper at the 19:14 mark to bring the Corsairs within one (3-2).

Playing with an extra man for the final 1:02 of play, UMass Dartmouth continued to pressure the Fitchburg State defense but the Falcons held strong, clearing the puck with 15 seconds on the clock. The Corsairs raced back in time to fire a last second shot, but Bartelson's attempt from ten yards out sailed wide to seal the Falcon victory.

Fitchburg State controlled the offense momentum throughout much of the contest, holding a commanding 41-23 advantage in shots. Vorse was stellar between the pipes for the Falcons, turning away 21 shots in the complete game effort, while senior goaltender Jon Dryjowicz-Burek (Ludlow, Mass./Springfield Jr. Falcons) stopped 38 for the Corsairs.

Courtesy Salem State Sports Information

Salem, MA - Head coach Bill O'Neill's Salem State Vikings eliminated the Plymouth State Panthers at the Rockett Arena Thursday night 6-1 in the MASCAC men's ice hockey tournament semifinal game.

Salem State improved their record to 14-8-4 and advanced to play the No. 1 seed Fitchburg State Falcons in the MASCAC men's ice hockey championship on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers end their season with a final record of 17-9-1

Salem State raced out to an early 4-0 lead in the first period after receiving a balanced scoring attack. Three Vikings combined for 6 points in the match up. Casey Terreri (Warwick, RI), Chris MacInnis (Waltham, MA), Ian Flannagan (New Hampton, NH), and Dan Rowland (Waltham, MA), each recorded a goal and an assist. Nick Lampson and Derek Crocker scored one goal apiece.

Bryan Kriner (Newport, RI) scored the Panther's lone goal in the second period.

Before the game three Salem State Vikings and two Plymouth State Panthers received honors from MASCAC. Salem State's Lampson was awarded the MASCAC Rookie of the Year. His teammates McInnis and Samuel Cannata (Bozeman, MT) received MASCAC All-Star honors. Panther Chris Chambers was awarded as the MASCAC player of the year. Chambers and fellow Plymouth State athlete Richie Zobak (Evergreen Park, IL) were also named to the MASCAC All-Star team.

Salem State began the scoring early in the first with a snipe from Lampson at the top of the slot four minutes into the game. The puck traveled over the shoulder of Panther goaltender Aaron Runner (Alpharetta, GA). Less than two minutes later Crocker scored what would prove to be the game-winner as the Viking ripped a shot past Runner for the 2-0 lead. 

Rowland and Flanagan closed out the scoring in the period as Salem State outshot Plymouth State 14-7 in the first and 42-21 for the game.

Salem goaltender Sam Avione (Ste-Perpetue Quebec) stopped 10 of 21 shots faced for the victory. Plymouth goaltenders Runner, who suffered the loss and Jack Astedt (Angelholm, Sweden) combined for 36 saves on 42 shots.

The MASCAC men's ice hockey championship game will pit the Salem State Vikings against the Fitchburg State Falcons at Fitchburg's Wallace Civic Center Saturday afternoon at two o'clock.