Valtonen, Board Named to MASCAC Weekly Honors

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State junior goalkeeper Valtteri Valtonen (Helsinki, Finland) and first-year forward Cooper Board (Salem, Mass.) both received conference recognition this past week after the Owls advanced into the conference tournament semifinals.

Valtonen was named the MASCAC Goalie of the Week after stopping 45 shots with a .938 save percentage in the Owls 5-3 victory over UMass Dartmouth in the conference quarterfinals on Saturday night from Amelia Park in Westfield, Mass. Valtonen allowed the Owls to take their first lead of the contest in the second period after saving all 21 shots fired on net in the frame from the Corsairs.

Overall, it was the third time in four meetings against UMass Dartmouth that Valtonen had recorded at least 45 saves against the Corsairs this year.

On the season, Valtonen owns a 2.99 goals against average with a .928 save percentage, both of which are top three in the conference ranks.

Board received the MASCAC Rookie of the Week after tallying a goal and an assist in the Owls win over the Corsairs. Board temporarily gave the Owls the lead in the third period, ripping a shot past the goalkeeper into the top-left corner of the net after beating his nearest defender on a net drive.

The first-year forward has registered at least one point in ten of the Owls last 11 games, scoring a goal in six of their last seven. Board leads the Owls on the year with 15 goals which is second outright in the MASCAC. He is Westfield's top point scorer on the season, generating 22 points (15 goals, 7 assists) across 26 games played.

Westfield State will travel to top-seeded and #10 nationally ranked Plymouth State for a MASCAC Semifinal game which is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday night at 6:00 P.M.

Visit WestfieldStateOwls.com for full coverage of the game with schedule updates, video, live stats, and postgame recap.