Ice Hockey’s Comeback Falls Short Against Plymouth State
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University ice hockey team battled back from three goals down in the third period, but fell short as they were defeated 6-5 by Plymouth State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Loring Arena.
With the win, the Panthers improve to 2-1 on the season and 1-1 in the conference, while the Rams are now 0-2 on the year and in the MASCAC.
Plymouth State took the early lead with a power play goal at 6:20 of the first as freshman Josh Woody (Sunderland, MD) knocked in a loose puck in front of the net.
The Rams tied the game late in the period as they scored off a face off in the offensive zone. Junior Jay Nicholls (Middleton, Mass.) won the face off and got the puck to classmate Tom Tracy (Wakefield, Mass.). Tracy laid it off to junior Eric Ward (Haverhill, Mass.) and Ward fired a shot into the corner for his second of the season.
Plymouth State took the lead back just under seven minutes into the second period. Senior Richie Zobak (Evergreen Park, IL) fired a shot on net and junior Travis Stevens (Montclair, CA) was there to flip home the rebound. The Panthers extended their lead four minutes later with their second power play goal of the game. Sophomore Michel Freitag (Westmont, IL) hit senior Kyle Greco (Hillside, IL) with a pass and Greco placed a shot inside the post for the 3-1 lead.
The Rams got one back with 5:33 left in the frame. Sophomore Dean Cavicchi (Plymouth, Mass.) took a pass in the neutral zone and carried the puck down the right side. Cavicchi snapped off a shot that found the back of the net for his first of the season to pull the Rams within one.
Just over a minute later, the Panthers found the back of the net again to push the lead back to two goals as Greco tallied his second of the period.
The Panthers added to their lead in the opening minutes of the third on a power play goal from senior Tim Visch (Mount Pleasant, MI), his first of the season.
The Rams answered three minutes later as sophomore Ryan McDonald (Anchorage, AK) tallied his first of the game. McDonald took possession in the neutral zone and carried the puck down the ice. He made a quick move and beat the Panther goalie with a well placed shot, cutting the deficit to 5-3.
The Panthers responded in the 10th minute as freshman Zach Fox (Sandown, NH) raced into the offensive zone and slipped a shot inside the post for his first collegiate goal and what would prove to be the game winner.
The Rams came right back with a goal to pull back within two. Senior Ben Pacific (Marlborough, Mass.) sent a pass in front from behind the net and junior Daniel Miressi (Monroe, Conn.) knocked in home for his first of the season.
The game remained 6-4 until the closing minutes. McDonald intercepted a pass from a Plymouth defender and glided across the front of the net firing a slap shot for his second of the game and third of the season to pull the Rams within one with 1:08 remaining.
That was as close as the Rams would get as they could not find the back of the net in the closing minute after pulling their goalkeeper.
The Panthers outshot the Rams 36-30 in the game and converted 4-of-7 power play opportunities, while the Rams converted on just 1-of-6. Senior Jack Astedt (Angelholm, Sweden) made 25 saves and picked up the victory, while Dale Adams (Gardner, Mass.) made 30 stops and was tagged with the loss for the Rams.
The Rams return to action on Saturday at MASCAC foe Westfield State beginning at 5:35 p.m., while the Panthers travel to Wentworth on Monday at 8:15 p.m.