Owls Slowed Down By Special Teams

Westfield, MA --- Coming off a tough loss to intrastate rivals Bridgewater State last weekend, the Westfield State club hockey team hosted Eastern Connecticut State on Alumni Weekend, at Amelia Park, Saturday evening. Westfield found themselves trailing midway through the first period as they were having trouble setting up their power play. Kevin Morton would give the Warriors a 1-0 lead after the first 20 minutes of play. The Owl's special teams unit would continue to struggle early in the second period and the Owls found themselves in a 3-0 hole midway through the second period. Two quick strikes by Zach Smith and captain, David Russo, made it a 3-2 game heading into the final period. 

Both teams came out of the locker rooms fired up for the last period but just 1:33 in, Eastern Connecticut would double their lead to make it 4-2, on a screened shot from the point. Christian Keaton would get his third goal of the game to make it a 5-2 game with 12:19 remaining. Westfield elected to pull their goalie with 3:30 remaining in the game to try to mount a comeback with a two man advantaged. Schyler Reilly would score with 43 seconds left in the game but it was too little, too late as the Warriors defeated the Owls by the score of 5-3. 

Westfield's next game is on Tuesday night at 8:00 pm. They travel to Worcester, MA to take on Holy Cross. The two teams will play a home and home series with the Owls hosting the Crusaders on Saturday in Westfield. For the latest news and score updates, please follow the team's twitter @wsuclub. 

GAME SHEET: 10/25/14 VS. EASTERN CT STATE UNIV.

Goals: Smith, D. Russo, Reilly
Goalie: Franco (1-2-0)
Power Play: 1 for 7
Penalty Kill: 4 for 6

Reilly Tricks New Haven, Owls Win 6-1

Westfield, MA --- The Westfield State University club hockey team recorded their first win of the 2014-2015 season on Saturday as they defeated University of New Haven 6-1. Westfield would get into penalty trouble early, spending six out of the first eight minutes of the game on the penalty kill. Schyler Reilly would get his first goal of the night when he flew by the Chargers defenseman on the left wing side for a short-handed breakaway goal. Connor Sweeney would make it 2-0 with the man advantage with 6:28 remaining in the first period.  Midway through the second period, Zach Vatcher and Schyler Reilly would skate in on a 2 on 1 break into the Chargers zone. Vatcher found Reilly across the crease and put it past New Haven's Samulenas. Westfield would take a 3-0 lead into the third period. 

With 12 minutes remaining in the game, Colin Pierce found Connor Sweeney at the top of the face-off circle, and his shot went high glove through a screen in front of the net. New Haven would find the score sheet 51 seconds later though on the power play to make the score 4-1. Schyler Reilly would record a hat trick with 9:23 left in regulation and Colin Pierce would score his first goal of the season with 7:34 left and the Owls would go on to win by the score of 6-1. 

Westfield and New Haven will meet on Friday down in West Haven, CT at 8:00pm. The Owls return home on Saturday night to host Bridgewater State at 5:00pm. To get score updates please follow the team's twitter @wsuclub . 

10/11/2014 - VS UNIV. OF NEW HAVEN

Goals: Reilly (1,2,3), Sweeney (1,2), Pierce (1)
Goalies: Thornton (1-0-0-1)
Power Play: 2 for 4 (15%)
Penalty Kill: 6 for 7 (87%)

Westfield's Offense Blanked In Loss At Bridgewater

Bridgewater, MA --- It didn't take long for Bridgewater State to break the scoreless tie, as Bears' defenseman Jake Dyl, slipped a knuckle puck past Nick Franco 15 seconds into the game. The Owls had trouble generating offense in the first period and were only able to get perimeter shots on rookie netminder Peter Drowne. With 4:27 remaining in the first period, Kody Casavant would make it 2-0 Bears with a shot from the top of the circle. Neither team really took control during the middle stanza but BSU would get the only goal. Mason Yates would end the scoring with a shot from the corner that went off the goalie and in the net. The two teams would skate scoreless for the final 30 minutes of the game. Westfield gained momentum in the third period and had several scoring opportunities but were not able to put one past Drowne. Even though it was not the result that the Owls were looking for, there are a few positives that the team can take out of the game. 

The Owls would like to thank Tom Convery for the post game meal. They return to action on Saturday as they host University of New Haven at Amelia Park Arena at 5:00 pm. If  you can't make it to Westfield, follow the team's twitter @wsuclub . 

Goals: None
Goaltender: Franco (0-1-0)
Power Play: 0 for 4 (0%)
Penalty Kill: 4 for 4 (88%)