Worcester State rallies past Ice Dogs in UBS Faceoff Classic opener, 5-3

November 7, 2008

Worcester State 5, Assumption 3

Fitchburg State 3, Salve Regina 1

WORCESTER, Mass. --- Worcester State College scored five unanswered goals including three on the power play en route to a 5-3 win over Assumption College in the first-round of the UBS Faceoff Classic at the Buffone Rink.

In the second game sophomore forward CHRIS RIGGS (Sewell, NJ) socred two goals as Fitchburg State College defeated Salve Regina University, 3-1.

The third-place game will be played Saturday at 4:30 p.m. with the championship slated for 7:30 p.m. at the Buffone Rink.

Fitchburg moved to a quick 1-0 lead as senior forward BOBBY KALOUSTIAN (Marlboro, MA) scored on a feed from sophomore defenseman BILLY PESCOSOLIDO (Framingham, MA) at 4:05.

The Falcons would chip away with Riggs scoring a goal in each of the next two periods and the Fitchburg State defense doing yeoman work in front of its goalkeeper, sophomore ROBERT VORSE (Leominster, MA). Vorse made just 11 saves as the Falcons outshot the Seahawks, 27-12.

Sophomore forward BRYAN RUSSELL (Essex Junction, VT/Tilton) scored an unassisted goal at 8:42 of the second period for the Seahawks.

In the opener, the Greyhounds moved to a 3-0 lead with three quick goals to start the second period. Sophomore forward MATT ST. PIERRE (Alexandria, VA/Hebron) opened the scoring with a wrist shot to the upper corner on a feed from sophomore PATRICK FITZGIBBONS (Holliston, MA/Saint John's) at 1:28.

St. Pierre upped the count to 2-0 with a power-play goal at 10:23 on a brilliant individual effort. Junior BEN KIRTLAND (Plymouth, NH/Holderness) made it 3-0 at 13:01 on assists from sophomore PETER BOUCHIE (Belmont, MA/Hoosac) and junior JON RETELLE (Monmouth, ME/Kents Hill).

The Lancers then started their comeback 23 seconds later as junior LEE BELISLE (Chicopee, MA/Chicopee) scored with junior ANDY ORSINI (Rochester, NY) and sophomore KRIS MATEA (Taunton, MA) getting assists.

The Lancers scored again to cut the gap to one goal at 19:38 as junior MARK RINTEL (Queens, NY) skated in on a feed from freshman forward CODY WARILA (Shirley, MA).

Worcester State then took control in the third period scoring three power play goals. Sophomore forward MARK ELIA (Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) tied the game at 12:56 and junior forward ANDREW BRADY (Philadephia, PA) put the Lancers in front at 16:36. Senior forward BILLY KNUBER (Bufflao, NY) scored an insurance goal 21 seconds later.

Junior goalkeeper ANDREW EVANS (Cromwell, CT) made 19 saves to post the win, while junior JAMIE DIGIULIO (Peabody, MA/Tilton) made 24 saves for the Ice Dogs.

WORCESTER STATE 5, ASSUMPTION 3

Worcester State (1-0-0) 0 2 3 -- 5

Assumption (0-1-0) 0 3 0 -- 3

First Period: No Scoring.

Penalties: Assumption 2, Worcester State 1

Second Period:

1, Assumption, Matt ST. PIERRE (1) (So., Alexandria, VA/Hebron) from Patrick FITZGIBBONS (So., Holliston, MA/Saint John's), 1:28;

2, Assumption, Matt ST. PIERRE (2) (So., Alexandria, VA/Hebron) unassisted, 10:23 (power play);

3, Assumption, Ben KIRTLAND (1) (Jr., Plymouth, NH/Holderness) from Jon RETELLE (Jr., Monmouth, ME/Kents Hill) and Peter BOUCHIE (So., Belmont, MA/Hoosac School), 13:01;

4, Worcester State, Lee BELISLE (1) (Jr., Chicopee, MA/Chicopee) from Andy ORSINI (Jr., Rochester, NY) and Kris METEA (So., Taunton, MA), 13:24;

5, Worcester State, Mark RINTEL (1) (Jr., Queens, NY) from Cody WARILA (Fr., Shirley, MA), 19:38.

Penalties: Assumption 2, Worcester State 5

Third Period:

6, Worcester State, Mark ELIA (1) (So., Worcester, MA/St. Peter-Marian) from Nick ASTERITO (Fr., Philadephia, PA) and Bill KNUBER (Sr., Buffalo, NY), 12:56 (power play);

7, Worcester State, Andrew BRADY (1) (Jr., Philadelphia, PA) from Nick ASTERITO (Fr., Philadephia, PA) and Bill KNUBER (Sr., Buffalo, NY), 16:36 (power play);

8, Worcester State, Bill KNUBER (1) (Sr., Buffalo, NY) frm Bill O'NEILL (So., Wayne, PA) and Mark RINTEL (Jr., Queens, NY), 16:57 (power play);

Penalties: Assumption 5, Worcester State 2

Goalkeepers:

Assumption, Jamie DI GIULIO (Jr., Peabody, MA/Tilton), 6-10-8--24

Worcester State, Andrew EVANS (Jr., Cromwell, CT), 7-5-7--19

Shots on Goal:

Assumption 7 8 7 -- 22

Worcester State 6 12 11 -- 29

Three Stars:

1, Worcester State, Bill KNUBER (Sr., Buffalo, NY) (1 goal, 2 assists)

2, Worcester State, Andrew EVANS (Jr., Cromwell, CT) (19 saves)

3, Assumption, Matt ST. PIERRE (So., Alexandria, VA/Hebron) (2 goals)

FITCHBURG STATE 3, SALVE REGINA 1

Salve Regina (0-1-0) 0 1 0 -- 1

Fitchburg State (1-0-0) 1 1 1 -- 3

First Period:

1, Fitchburg State, Bobby KALOUSTIAN (1) (Sr., Marlboro, MA) from Billy PESCOSOLIDO (So., Framingham, MA), 4:05

Penalties: Salve Regina 3, Fitchburg State 2

Second Period:

2, Salve Regina, Bryan RUSSELL (1) (So., Essex Junction, VT/Tilton) unassisted, 8:42.

3, Fitchburg State, Chris RIGGS (1) (So., Sewell, NJ) from John GOFFREDO (So., Washingtonville, NY), 17:25

Penalties: Salve Regina 3, Fitchburg State 2

Third Period:

4, Fitchburg State, Chris RIGGS (1) (So., Sewell, NJ) from John GOFFREDO (So., Washingtonville, NY), 18:40

Goalkeepers:

Salve Regina, Pat ENLOE (So., Stuart, FL), 8-8-8--24 saves

Fitchburg State, Robert VORSE (So., Leominster, MA), 1-5-5--11 saves

Shots on Goal:

Salve Regina 1 6 5 -- 12

Fitchburg State 9 9 9 -- 27

Three Stars:

1, Fitchburg State, Chris RIGGS (So., Sewell, NJ)

2, Fitchburg State, Robert VORSE (So., Leominster, MA)

3, Salve Regina, Bryan RUSSELL (So., Essex Junction, VT/Tilton)