USM Opens Season with 5-2 Win Over Fitchburg State

            FITCHBURG, Mass. -- Senior Zach Dymock (Dutton, Ont.) had a career-high three points scoring two goals and passing out an assist as the University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the Fitchburg State University Falcons 5-2 Friday night in the opening round of the ICFCU Shootout at the Wallace Civic Center.  The game was the season opener for both clubs.

            In the earlier opening-round game, Wentworth Institute of Technology rode a five-goal first-period explosion to a 6-0 win over Worcester State University.

            Dymock gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead with the only goal of the first period at 8:25.  Dymock converted a set-up from seniors Chad O'Brien (Johnstown, Penn.) and PM Lapointe (St. Georges, Quebec) while the Huskies were enjoying a five-minute power play.

            Fitchburg State came back midway through the second period to score a pair of goals in just over two minutes to take the lead.  Rookie Mike Fretz (Seattle, Wash.) tallied 22 seconds into a Falcon power play to tie the score at 11:45.  Freshman Ricky Kramer (Strafford, N.H.) and senior John Celli (Leominster, Mass.) earned the assists.  Celli put the home side ahead just over two minutes later off an assist from senior Ryan Bedard (Derby Line, Vt.).

            Thirty-five seconds after the Celli goal, USM rookie Jimmy Currier (Middleton, Mass.) tallied his first collegiate goal to tie the game at 2-2.  Before the period came to a close, sophomore Patrick Magliano (Hudson, N.H.) put the Huskies in the lead for good with a power-play goal set up by Dymock and junior Cole Klippenstein (Franklin, Tenn.).

            Rookie Tyler Mathieu (Stillwater Lake, N.S.) gave USM a two-goal advantage at 2:13 of the third period with his first collegiate marker after assists from sophomore Lucas Branin (Tampa, Fla.) and Currier.  Dymock put the decision to bed with an empty-net short-handed goal assisted by rookie Conor Ferrera (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) and Lapointe at 18:55.

            Sophomore goalie Kyle Shapiro (Ocean, N.J.) stopped 34 shots in the USM goal to earn the victory.  Senior Corey McMahon (Lunenburg, Mass.) surrendered four goals and made 33 saves before being lifted for the extra attacker with 1:31 to play.

            Southern Maine is back in action Saturday afternoon (1:00 p.m.) taking on Worcester State in the second round of the tournament.  Fitchburg State will play Wentworth in the late game (4:00 p.m.).

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