Jake Ratcliffe (file photo)
Posted: Nov 11, 2021
WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State University got 53 saves from Valtteri Valtonen as the Owls rallied from a 3-1 deficit to tie Plymouth State, 3-3, in a MASCAC ice hockey game at the Hanaway Rink on Thursday night in Plymouth, N.H.
Westfield State is now 1-2-1 overall and 0-0-1 in the MASCAC, while Plymouth is 2-1-1, 0-0-1 MASCAC.
Westfield got a pair of goals from grad student Chuck Costello, a transfer from Becker College. Costello gave the Owls a 1-0 lead 5:56 into the second period, but Plymouth tacked on three of their own before the period ended.
Peter Laviolette, Jr., the son of the Owls' most notable hockey alumnus – Peter Laviolette '86, the head coach of the Washington Capitals – started the scoring for the Panthers. Niks Krollis added a power play goal, and Miles Abbate tallied with just 35 seconds left in the frame to stake Plymouth to a 3-1 lead.
Westfield got one back at the 8:44 mark of the third period, with Mattheiu Jones feeding Jake Ratcliffe for the goal, and then Costello netted his second of the game at the 15:47 mark, converting at the back door off a beautiful feed from Paul Frys.
Valtonen weathered 46 Plymouth State shots in regulation, and added seven more saves, several of the circus variety in the extra frame.
The Owls had to skate off 3:26 of penalty kill in the 3-on-3 overtime period, including 35 seconds of a 5–on–3 power play for the Panthers. Valtonen was up to the task with a huge glove save on a breakaway with 3:16 left in the game, then stymied a 4-on-2 breakaway, and finally a pair of point blank shots with 1:20 left in the game.
Westfield was only able muster one official shot on goal in the OT with the extended penalty kill.
The Owls will be back in action on Saturday at Amelia Park Arena in Westfield, with a 5:35 p.m. face off against Worcester State.