Ice Hockey Opens Season with Setback at Fitchburg State

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Framingham State University ice hockey team opened the 2012 season this evening on the road and were defeated 8-2 by Fitchburg State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) matchup at the Wallace Civic Center.

The Rams are now 0-1 on the year and in the MASCAC, while the Falcons improve to 1-2-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

The Falcons jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period before the Rams cut the deficit in half on sophomore Ryan McDonald's (Anchorage, AK) goal with just under five minutes remaining in the period.  Sophomore Dylan Cosford (Windsor, Ontario) and junior Daniel Miressi (Monroe, Conn.) assisted on the tally.

Fitchburg State pushed the lead to 4-1 with a pair of goals in the first three minutes of the second period.  The Rams cut into the lead late in the third on junior Eric Ward's (Haverhill, Mass.) unassisted marker, but a Fitchburg goal with just over a minute left pushed the deficit back to three for the Rams.

The Falcons controlled the third period and added three more to reach the final margin.

Fitchburg State outshot the Rams 39-23 in the game and were 3-for-10 on the power play, while the Rams were 0-for-5.

Junior Dale Adams (Gardner, Mass.) suffered the loss in net for the Rams making 29 saves, while Randy Wolcott made 20 saves and picked up the victory for the Falcons.

The Rams return to action on Thursday night at home against Plymouth State University at 7:30 p.m.