THE BASICS:

-Score: Assumption 0, Westfield State 4

-Records: Assumption (2-5-2); Westfield State (7-1-0)

-The Lead: The Assumption College ice hockey team dropped a 4-0 final on the road at Westfield State on Thursday evening. The Owls entered the contest with a 6-1 overall record on the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

-Westfield State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute of the game, but the Assumption defense held the Owls to just one in the first period. 

-In the second, the Owls broke the game open with a goal just 17 seconds into the frame, followed by another with just one second left in the second period.

-The Owls registered their fourth and final goal at the 14:35 mark on a power-play goal by Roman Pfennings in the third.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-Senior Alex Erban (Attleboro, Mass. / Mount Saint Charles) led the Hounds with eight shots on the day while sophomore Tommy Mahoney (Braintree, Mass. / Braintree) followed with five. 

-Overall, Westfield State outshot the Hounds 42-36 and capitalized on 1-of-2 power play attempts while Assumption was unable to convert on three extra-man opportunities.

-Senior Brandon Bete (Greenfield, Mass. / Northfield Mount Hermon) claimed 10-of-18 faceoffs for the Hounds. Overall Assumption won 27-of-56.

-In goal, Westfield State's Jonathan Loparco tallied 36 saves in net while Assumption goaltenders Chris Hemhauser (Old Saybrook, Conn. / Glastonbury) and Nick Commesso (Marshfield, Mass. / The Governor's Academy) combined for 38.

-Commesso occupied the goal for the first 40 minutes of the contest, accumulating 23 saves on 26 shots, before Hemhauser relieved the junior for the final 20 minutes, posting 15 saves and allowing just one goal.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE:

-The Greyhounds currently rank first in the NE-10 in scoring offense, posting a 3.50 goals per game average.

-Bete is currently in a three-way tie for first in the league with six goals and is also tied for second in power-play goals with two.

-Gomez leads the conference in assists with 10 and ranks second in overall points (10).

-Junior Kevin Murphy (North Conway, NH / Kennett) and sophomore Matt Cowles (Farmington, Conn. / Avon Old Farms) are currently tied for second in the NE-10 in defenseman scoring. Both Hounds have registered six points this season.

-In goal, Commesso ranks in the top two in three categories including holding the top spot with a .935 save percentage.

UP NEXT:

-Assumption returns to action for three straight home contests beginning on Saturday, Dec. 5, against Southern New Hampshire at 4:35 p.m. The Hounds will host Framingham State on Wednesday, Dec. 9, and finish the home stand with Saint Michael's on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

STAY CONNECTED:

-For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240. 

-Fans can also sign up for email updates and text message alerts for the men's ice hockey team and all of the other 23 Assumption varsity sports by clicking here.