Falcons defeat host Beacons for title

Fitchburg State Athletics

BOSTON, Mass. – Junior goaltender Bobby Leiser registered a season-best 58 saves to lead Fitchburg State to a Codfish Bowl championship, posting a 4-1 victory over host UMass-Boston on Thursday.

Leiser was electric between the pipes allowing only one goal as Fitchburg State withstood a 59-28 deficit in shots. The Falcons were precise in their shooting, converting four of 28 attempts (1 of 7 power play), while holding the Beacons scoreless over nine power-play opportunities.

For the second consecutive contest, Fitchburg State received a solid offensive effort from senior Andrew Jones who connected for the game-winning marker at 18:42 of the second period. Sophomore Trevor Lawler erased an early 1-0 deficit with a power-play marker for the Falcons at the 7:44 mark before Jones connected on the eventual game winner 11 minutes later.

Fitchburg State continued its offensive momentum in the third period, touching the back of the net twice to clinch its seventh victory of the season. Freshman Shawn Bradley started the Falcons third period scoring with his first collegiate goal off helpers from Cory Callen and Nick Zaino, before sophomore Brett Provost capped the game’s offense with his first tally of the season at 9:25.

Provost and Callen paced the Fitchburg State attack with two points apiece, while junior Thomas McAleer, senior Kevin McCready, classmate Chris Riggs and sophomore Curtis Nikitas all added helpers.