Reilly Gets Hat Trick In 6-2 Win Over Merrimack



N. Andover, MA --- The Westfield State Owls used their best period of the season to get off to a great start Friday night at Merrimack College. The Owls would score first in a game for the first time this season when Schyler Reilly's shot from the corner beat Warriors goaltender Geno D'Avolio.  Four minutes later, Reilly would get his second goal of the night to put the Owls up 2-0 when his backhand shot found the back of the net. The Warriors would cut the lead in half only a minute later to make it a one goal game midway through the first period.  With 5:58 remaining in the opening period, Schyler Reilly would send hats flying through the air when he completed the team's first hat trick of the season to put the Owls back up by two goals.

The second period was long and very scrappy. Joey Green put the Owls up 4-1 when he received a pass from behind then net in the slot and buried his shot for his second goal of the season. The Owls for the most part were the more disciplined team but they found themselves in penalty trouble midway through the second period. Merrimack would convert on a 5 on 3 power play to cut the lead to 4-2. However, that's as close as they would get and Westfield's defense wouldn't allow another goal in front of the strong play of Ryan DiMare. DiMare would pick up his first win of the season. Before the period was over, Joey Green would get his second of the night with a short-handed break away goal to send the teams into the second intermission.

Westfield continued their solid play into the third period and Colin Pierce would score on a 2 on 1 break for the Owls to increase the Owls lead to 6-2. With the 6-2 win, the Owls improve their league record to 2-1-0-1 and move into second place in the Southwest Division.

The Owls return to action on Saturday afternoon at 5:00 PM at Amelia Park as they host St. Anselm College. This is the only game this season between the two teams. The Owls were 1-1-0 in last year's season series. You can get game updates by following the twitter feed on our blog or by following the team on twitter at @wsuclub. 

Goals: Reilly (2,3,4), Green (2,3), Pierce (2)
Saves: DiMare (36)

Power Play: 1 for 9 (11%)
Penalty Kill: 4 for 5 (80%)

Game Sheet: Westfield State @ Merrimack College

* Photo Courtesy of Laura Akeley Kilgour