Nichols Tops Fitchburg State, 4-2

Carey nets first collegiate goal in Falcons ECAC Northeast setback

FITCHBURG, Mass. (December 10, 2008) - Sophomore Chris Carey (Belmont, Mass./Belmont) netted his first collegiate goal as Fitchburg State fell to Nichols College, 4-2 in ECAC Northeast action this evening at the Wallace Civic Center.

Sophomore Chris Riggs (Sewell, N.J./Fort Vancouver Pioneers) and Carey teamed up to lead the Fitchburg State offense with one goal apiece, while senior captains Bob Kaloustian (Marlborough, Mass./Suffolk) and Matt Arsenault (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) chipped in with one assist each.  

CHRIS CAREY

Senior Anthony Monte (Chicago, IL./Chicago Force) and classmate Cole Ruwe (Pekin, IL/Peoria Mustangs) paced the Nichols attack as the duo connected twice with a goal/assist combo. Monte registered two scores on the evening, while Ruwe tallied two helpers. Freshman Andrew Ella (Schomberg, Ontario/Georgetown Raiders) was also solid with one goal scored.

Nichols opened the contest with an early 2-0 advantage through two periods of play. Sophomore Matt Roberts (Merrimac, Mass./New England Huskies) ignited the scoring for the Bison early in the first period, posting his third goal of the season just 0:29 into the contest. Ella followed suit in the second period, putting through his second goal of the year off an assist from sophomore Matt Sayer (Lowell, Mass./New England Huskies) at the 17:07 mark.

Fitchburg State fired back midway through the third period as Riggs cut the Nichols lead to 2-1. Riggs took a dish sophomore John Goffredo (Washingtonville, N.Y./Boston Harbor Wolves) and blasted a shot from the left face-off circle for his fourth score of the season. Nichols quickly responded as Monte notched his first score of the game just 1:06 later.

In the closing minutes of the match, the Falcons again inched closer, cutting the Nichols lead to only one, as Carey registered his first collegiate goal at the 16:44 mark. But, with 0:34 remaining in regulation, the Bison secured their tenth victory of the season as Monte deposited an empty-netter.

Nichols out-shot Fitchburg State 34-28 in the contest, while both teams converted one power-play attempt. Freshman Bobby Leiser (Monroe, N.Y./New York Applecore) collected 30 saves in net for the Falcons, while senior Keith Fink (Easton, Md./Collingwood Blues) stopped 26 shots for the Bison.

Fitchburg State (4-3-0, 2-2-0 ECAC NE) will be in action again on Saturday as it travels to Worcester State College at 4:30 p.m. Nichols (10-1-0, 7-0-0 ECAC NE) will host Southern New Hampshire University on Sunday at 8:30 p.m.

 CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

 Nichols 4, Fitchburg State 2

Scoring:
First Period: NIC: Matt Roberts (Zach Hendrickson), 0:29;
Second Period:  NIC: Andrew Ella (Matt Sayer), 17:07
Third Period:  FIT: Chris Riggs (John Goffredo, Matt Arsenault), 10:22; NIC: Anthony Monte (Cole Ruwe), 11:16; FIT: Chris Carey (Kris Threlkeld, Bob Kaloustian), 16:44; NIC: Monte (Ruwe), 19:26
Goaltending: FIT: Bobby Leiser (59:390), 30 saves; NIC: Keith Fink (60:00), 26 saves
Shots On Goal: FIT: 28; NIC: 34