Fitchburg State knocks off Seahawks, 6-1

FITCHBURG, Mass. - Senior Andrew Hutton (Brewster, Mass) and freshman Chris Costigan (Salem, N.H.) combined for six points as Fitchburg State downed Salve Regina, 6-1 in non-conference action Thursday evening.

Hutton spearheaded the Fitchburg State offensive front, posting three points on two goals and one assist, while Costigan paced the offense with three helpers. Junior Chris Riggs (Sewell, N.J.) added to the Falcons mix with one marker and one dish, while freshman Kevin McCready (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), sophomore Travis Bertolotti (Miller Place, N.Y.) and classmate Bryan Canter (Anchorage, Alaska) added one score apiece.

Salve Regina junior Lee Trott (Rehoboth, Mass.) registered the lone goal for the Seahawks, while freshman Mackenzie Swartz (Aurora, Colo.) and junior Eric Spalt (Barnstable, Mass.) chipped in with an assist on the play.

Fitchburg State started the scoring early, registering three unanswered goals throughout the first period to take a 3-0 lead into the break. McCready opened the Falcons scoring just 5:40 into the contest, connecting for his fifth score of the season off assists from freshman John Vets (Hamden, Conn.) and senior Patrick Dolan (St. Louis, Mo.). Hutton followed suit just 2:10 later with his fourth score of the season, while Bertolotti added his second marker of the year to complete the first frame scoring.

Salve Regina bounced back early in the second period as Trott collected his first goal of the season at the 3:55 mark, but Fitchburg State ended the Seahawk rally with back-to-back scores by Hutton and Riggs to take a commanding 5-1 lead. Canter added an early third period insurance goal for the Falcons, sealing Fitchburg State's eighth victory of the season.

The Falcons controlled the offensive side of the puck, posting a 57-39 advantage in shots as Salve Regina sophomore goaltender Ben Bradley (Newburyport, Mass.) stopped 51 shots in net. Sophomore Bobby Leiser (Monroe, N.Y.) picked up the victory for Fitchburg State, totaling 30 saves in 52 minutes of work, while senior Kevin Zwier (Buffalo Grove, N.Y.) saw action with eight saves in eight minutes.

Fitchburg State (8-3-1, 4-2-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Saturday as it hosts Framingham State College at 5 p.m. Salve Regina (1-13-0, 0-4-0 ECAC NE) will be in action again on Wednesday as it travels to Becker College at 8:30 p.m.

Courtesy of Fitchburg State sports information