WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Sophomore defenseman Joe Balog (Ludlow, MA) registered his first college hat trick and Western New England College snapped a five-game skid with a 6-4 victory over visiting Framingham State College Saturday night (Feb. 3) in an ECAC Northeast contest at the Olympia Ice Center.

Senior forward Mike Amato (Mt. Laurel, NJ) added two goals and sophomore forward Mike Majesty (Chicago, IL) contributed a goal and two assists as the Golden Bears upped their record to 8-12 overall and 2-10 in the conference.

Balog opened the scoring with a power play score 2:14 into the contest, then Amato hit the back of the net at the 4:40 mark for a 2-0 margin.

Western New England College held a 3-1 advantage after the first period and 4-2 lead after the second stanza.

Balog tallied another power play goal at the 7:38 mark of the third period before the Rams countered with their own power play score just 21 seconds later.

Junior forward Jon Lamken then scored his second goal of the game to pull FSC within 5-4 at 11:44 before Balog cemented the win with his third power goal of the evening (and seventh goal of the season) at 16:53.

Sophomore goalie Kyle Sagnella (East Haven, CT) finished with 24 saves for the Golden Bears while freshman goalie Andy Joyce (Milford, MA) stopped 23 shots for the Rams (2-17-2, 0-11-1).