Rivier's Damon Kiyawasew pushes ahead Thursday night vs. Fitchburg State Thursday night at Conway Arena. (Courtesy photo by Gabby Cabral/Rivier Athletics)

NASHUA – The Rivier men’s ice hockey team fell to Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference opponents Fitchburg St., 8-2 Thursday evening at Conway Arena.

With the loss the Raiders fell to 5-10-1 (1-7-1 MASCAC), while the Falcons improved to 9-7-0 (5-4-0 MASCAC).

Fitchburg St. logged the games first tally at the 7:17 mark of the first period. Just 1:30 later, sophomore forward Chris Allain intercepted a pass from a Falcons defender and connected with senior defensemen Brett Turner who fired in his first collegiate college and knotted the game up, 1-1. Matteo Orme Lynch of Fitchburg St. found twine twice in the remaining five minutes of the opening frame to take a 3-1 into the first intermission.

The Falcons kept their offensive momentum going into the second period. Jack Johansen and Orme-Lynch each recorded their hattricks in route to their 7-1 lead at the end of 40 minutes.

Rivier got one back just before the eight-minute mark of the third period. Junior forward Alfred Rotiroti played a loose put out to graduate forward Cody Rumsey who flew down the ice and tucked in the Raiders’ third shorthanded goal in two games. The Falcons tact on one more, to close the match out 8-2.

The Raiders are back in action Saturday, Jan. 25, for Senior night and Family Weekend as they face off against MASCAC foe Worcester St. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Conway Arena.