Kevin Chandler
Posted: Nov 30, 2023
WESTFIELD, Mass. - Fitchburg State's Antoine Gignac scored on a shot from the high slot with 40 seconds left in overtime to lift the Falcons past Westfield State, 3-2 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference hockey game on Thursday night.
Westfield State falls to 4-3-1 overall and 2-2-1 in the MASCAC, while Fitchburg improves to 5-1-2 and 4-0-2 in conference play.
The Falcons were granted the power play after a hooking call with 1:29 left in the extra session. The Falcons cycled the puck around to Gignac with the 4-on-3 advantage on the power play.
Westfield had tied the game at 2-2 with a goal from Andreas Fleutot at the 12:55 mark of the third period.
Ryan O'Halloran netted the Owls' first goal to tie the game at 1-1 at 14:33 of the second period.
Kevin Chandler made 43 saves in net for the Owls, including coming up with pair of big saves on a breakaway earlier in the overtime period.
Max Macchione stopped 34 shots for the Falcons.
Westfield State will be back in action on Saturday, hosting UMass-Dartmouth in a conference game at Amelia Park Arena with a 5:35 p.m. start. The Owls will host "Pizza With The Players" and a chance to Skate with the Owls post game for Westfield Youth Hockey players. WYH players will be admitted to the game free of charge if they wear their uniform jersey to the game.
Also in conjunction with the University's public relations class, there will be a raffle as part of the students' "Hope Scores Big" campaign to support Rick's Place, a youth grief support organization.