Ice Hockey Downs Plymouth State, 4-2, to Remain atop MASCAC Standings

Plymouth, N.H. – Senior goaltender Nick Cafrelli (San Jose, Calif.) made 47 saves Thursday evening as Framingham State University knocked off Plymouth State University, 4-2, in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's ice hockey action at Hanaway Rink.

Cafrelli turned aside 22 shots in the second period and 19 more in the third period as Plymouth State out-shot the visitors, 49-22. Senior Eric Ward (Haverhill, Mass.) keyed the Framingham offense with a pair of goals, including an empty-netter that sealed the win.

The Rams continued to shock its MASCAC foes. After finishing 2-19-3 overall and 0-15-3 in conference play a year ago, Framingham State sits alone atop the MASCAC standings this season with a 5-3-1 overall record and 4-1-1 conference mark.

Freshman Ian McGilvrey (Omaha, Neb.) led the Panthers with a goal and an assist, but PSU dropped to 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the MASCAC.

After a scoreless first period, Ward wasted little time in putting the Rams on the scoreboard in the second frame. He potted his MASCAC-leading ninth goal of the season just 40 seconds into the period to give Framingham a lead it would not relinquish. Senior Daniel Miressi (Monroe, Conn.) doubled the Rams' lead with 12 minutes to go in the middle frame, deflecting a shot in front of the Panther goal for his third of the season.

Cafrelli made perhaps his best stop of the night three minutes later, making a glove save on a breakaway by PSU senior Phil Arnone (Litchfield, N.H.). The Panthers broke into the scoring column with six minutes to go in the period as McGilvrey and senior Dave Walters (Ottawa, Ont.) kept the puck in the zone at the left point, passed the puck to freshman Mike Economos (Crystal Lake, Ill.) in the slot, and Economos snapped a wrist shot past the goalie to put the Panthers on the board.

Framingham got its two-goal lead back early in the third period as senior Bo Driscoll (Chelmsford, Mass.) stole a Panther clearing pass at the left point and fired a shot through traffic that found the back of the net. It was an unassisted power play goal, putting the Rams up 3-1.

Plymouth State pulled back to within a goal with just under five minutes to play as McGilvrey stick-handled the puck in front of the net and lifted a backhander into the roof of the net during a 4-on-4 situation. PSU pulled its goalie with 1:19 to play, but Ward scored into the empty net 13 seconds later to clinch the victory.

Senior goalie Tyler Ingerson (Concord, N.H.) suffered the loss in the Panther goal after making 18 saves.

PSU is home again on Saturday for a MASCAC game against Westfield State University in the annual Salute the Troops Day at Hanaway Rink (2:00 p.m.). Framingham State is idle until visiting Assumption College next Wednesday, Dec. 11, for a non-conference encounter.