Box Score FITCHBURG, Mass.-A goal by the Fitchburg State University men's ice hockey team midway through the third period proved to be the deciding goal in a 2-1 victory over the Pilgrims of New England College in a non-conference match-up on Friday evening at the Wallace Civic Center.

SCORING
2^nd 02:26 | NEC William Riise (Adam Zollner, Keenan Haase)
2^nd 19:09 | FIT Connor McPherson (Nick DiNicola, Brandon Ecklund)
3^rd 10:31 | FIT Ricky Kramer (Corey Hayashi)

HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first period, New England College scored the first marker of 2017 as Adam Zollner (Varnamo, Sweden) found fellow sophomore William Riise (Charlottenlund, Denmark) to give the Pilgrims the advantage at 2:26.

Fitchburg State would tie the game up at 1-1, when junior Connor McPherson (Clovis, Calif.) potted the Nick DiNicola (Wolcott, Conn.) pass into the back of the net from the blue line, for a power-play score.

Midway through the third period, Fitchburg State notched the game-winner when senior Corey Hayashi (Toronto, Ont.) skating around the Pilgrims net untouched, threaded a seeing eye pass to the stick of junior Ricky Kramer (Barnstead, NH) weak-side for a shorthanded tally.

New England College outshot the Falcons (33-23), and held the advantage on face-offs winning 42-21.

GOALTENDERS
Junior netminder Kirby Saari (Cape Elizabeth, Me.) made several clutch saves down the stretch, including a point-blank shot from Mike Whitehair (Victor, N.Y.) with seconds on the clock, to preserve the win for the Falcons.

For NEC, senior Kyle Shapiro (Ocean Township, N.J.) tallied 21 saves in defeat.

WHAT'S NEXT
New England College returns to Lee Clement Arena tomorrow for a 4:00 p.m. home opener against Bryn Athyn College.