Box Score Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Freshman forward Lucas Romero (Roho Sta Marg, CA) netted the game-winner with 11.6 seconds left to lead the Westfield State men's hockey team to a dramatic 5-4 victory over Western New England College in the second annual Falcons' Cup contest Friday afternoon (Nov. 6) at the MassMutual Center.

Western New England College battled back from a 4-2 deficit to tie the game on a pair of goals in a 48-second span in the third period.

Sophomore forward Kory Grahl (San Diego, CA) pulled the Golden Bears within one at the 11:37 mark with assists from junior forward Vinny Weyel (North Haven, CT) and sophomore defenseman Joe Deptula (Anchorage, AK).

Sophomore forward Mike Kaselouskas (East Longmeadow, MA) then tied the contest at 12:25 on a power play score as senior defensemen Joe Trimboli (Las Vegas, NV) and Dave Sagnella (East Haven, CT) earned assists.

The game appeared headed to overtime until Romero redirected a shot attempt by junior defenseman Dylan Scanlon (Longmeadow, MA) into the net as the Owls won their season opener under new coach Bob Miele. Scanlon finished with three assists in the contest.

Senor forward Mike Muolo (Stoneham, MA) scored twice for Westfield State, including the first goal on a power play at 6:36 of the opening period. 

After sophomore forward Pat Nelson (Cary, NC) gave the Owls a 2-0 lead, WNEC tied the contest on goals by sophomore forward Rory Hansen (Noblesville, IL) at 14:57 and  junior forward Tyler Kwalek (Wallingford, CT) at 18:52.

Weyel and Krahl assisted on Hansen's score while senior forward Michael St. Lawrence (Holyoke, MA) and junior forward Chris Beaudoin (Enfield, CT) had assists on Kwalek's shot.

Nelson's second goal (on a power play) at 4:31 of the middle stanza gave the Owls a 3-2 advantage after 40 minutes. Muolo made it a two-goal game by scoring 29 seconds into the third period.

Junior goalie Justin Richards (Somers, CT) made 19 saves for the Golden Bears while junior Ray Monroe (Shrewsbury, MA) stopped 28 shots for WSC.

There were 25 penalties in the game (13 for Westfield, 12 for WNEC), including 14 in the final period. 

Westfield freshman forward Jason Nelson (Raleigh, NC)  had a 10-minute misconduct, which helped lead to the tying goal. Senior forward Casey Mignone (Ramsey, NJ) had a five-minute penalty for hitting after the whistle and 10-minute game disqualification in the second period.

The Golden Bears fall to 0-2 after dropping their second one-goal contest in three days.