Men’s Ice Hockey Topples Westfield State, 3-1

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The MCLA Men's Ice Hockey team wrapped up their home schedule this evening with a 3-1 win over Westfield State in MASCAC hockey action at the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Ice Rink. Easton Moore scored twice, Luke Rhoss scored once and added an assist on another, while Mathew Gover stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced. The win was the Trailblazers' third in their last four games, with all three victories coming over MASCAC opponents.

SENIOR DAY

Before the game, the Trailblazers recognized their graduating senior class as part of senior night. Nathan Walerowicz was honored by coaches, teammates, family members, and fans for his time with the hockey program. Although his time with the program may end, he will forever be a part of the MCLA family.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Saturday, February 10, 2024
• Score: Westfield State 1, MCLA 3
• Records: Westfield State Owls 12-9-2 (MASCAC 9-8-2) | MCLA Trailblazers 6-16-1 (MASCAC 4-14-1)

HIGHLIGHTS

• MCLA scored the game's first goal with just over ten minutes off the clock in the first period. Easton Moore started the breakaway from below the Trailblazers' goal line and pushed it ahead to Nathan Walerowicz, who found Cade Herrera waiting at the blue line. Herrera's pass skipped ahead to Moore and went off the boards beyond the goal line but right back to Moore, who found Luke Rhoss crashing to the net. Rhoss lifted the puck over the goalie's shoulder for his fifth goal of the season.
• With five minutes left in the first period, Westfield State pulled even with a goal by Tomas Muller (at 15:00, assisted by Andrea Fleutot).
• A scoreless second period was not without peril for either team. The Trailblazers had a pair of power-play opportunities early in the second period but could not capitalize on them. The Owls also had a pair of chances with ten minutes and just under six minutes left in the period, but the MCLA penalty kill did its job.
• What would end up being the game-winning goal for the Trailblazers was scored on a four-on-four after the teams took matching roughing penalties with just over 11 minutes to go in the third period. Westfield State had the first offensive opportunity of the four-on-four but had their shot go wide of the net and then rebound out to Moore along the right-hand boards in the MCLA defensive end. Moore then skated the puck through the neutral zone, split a pair of defenders, and flipped a wrist shot past the Owl goalie.
• MCLA added an empty net goal with less than seven seconds left on the clock after Connor Nagy cleared the puck the length of the ice, and then Rhoss outskated an Owl defender to get to the puck and hold off an icing call. Rhoss then passed to Moore, who had followed down the ice and was perfectly placed in the slot to put the puck in the open net. The goal was Moore's fourth of the season, while the assists were number five and seven for Nagy and Rhoss, respectively.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Shots: Westfield 22, MCLA 31
• Saves: Westfield 28, MCLA 21
• Faceoffs Won: Westfield 39, MCLA 31
• Penalty/Minutes: Westfield 6/12:00, MCLA 9/18:00
• Power Plays: Westfield 0 for 5, MCLA 0 for 3

UP NEXT:

On Thursday, MCLA will be back in action when they travel to Framingham State for a MASCAC matchup with the Rams at the Loring Arena. The puck will drop at 7 p.m.

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