Box Score Box / Text / Sheet

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Maxime Richard scored in the first period and goalie Ian Perrier made the only goal of the game stand up, as Westfield State was able to fend off Western New England, 1-0, in the 7th annual Falcon Cup men's hockey game on Saturday at MassMutual Center. It was the season opener for both the Pioneer Valley rivals.

Senior goalie Tim Carr was solid in his own right, stopping 21 of 22 shots he faced.

Despite the loss, the WNE offense had some terrific looks on goal as the Golden Bears outshot the Owls, 42-22. But Perrier was equal to the task by making all 42 saves for the senior's first career shutout.

Western New England kept the offensive pressure on the Owls defense all game long, hitting the post three times. The two best scoring opportunities to get the equalizer and possibly send the game into a 5-minute overtime came in the third period. With the Golden Bears on the penalty-kill, senior captain Brandon Stroud took advantage of an Owls turnover in the neutral zone and had a breakaway on Perrier, who made a glove save off Stroud's wrist-shot from between the face-off dots with 8 minutes and 41 seconds left in the game. Then with 2:30 remaining, senior Andy Cramer hit the right post on a backhander. The Golden Bears also had two power-play chances in the final stanza, but could not score.

Richard scored at the 8:20 mark of the opening period, going over Carr's blocker into the upper-left corner of the net. Donovan Gardiner and Jackson Leef assisted on the play.

The teams combined to go 0-for-9 on the man-advantage.

Western New England hits the ice again on Thursday against another MASCAC foe in Worcester State for its Smead Rink home opener, with opening face-off set for 7:10 p.m.