For Immediate Release
Contact Dave Geringer, Sports Information Director, (508) 990-9651  [log in to unmask]
Monday, February 26, 2007				 

UMASS DARTMOUTH FACES OLD RIVAL IN PLAYOFFS WEDNESDAY EVENING

NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA–For the second playoff game in succession, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s hockey team will be playing a team it has already defeated twice this year when the Corsairs host Fitchburg State Wednesday evening in the semi-finals of Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast playoffs. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at the Stephen Hetland Memorial Arena in New Bedford.

UMass Dartmouth comes into the game with the top seed in the playoffs and a 23-2-1 record, having won four games in a row and 13 of their past 14 games. Senior forward Peter Lindner (Parlin, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) scored three goals and the Corsairs scored three power play goals and three shorthanded goals in a 9-2 first round victory against Salve Regina last Saturday. It was the third time that UMass Dartmouth defeated the Seahawks in as many games this season.

Fitchburg State is the fifth seed, is 14-9-3 and has won two of its last three games, including a 3-2, overtime victory in the first round of the playoffs at Plymouth State last Saturday night. The Falcons were out shot in that game, 48-22, but Ryan Moore scored twice and goaltender Devan McConnell made 46 saves to earn the victory. The Corsairs defeated FSC twice this season, 7-3 in a non-conference game at Hetland November 29th and 3-0 in a conference game at Fitchburg’s Wallace Civic Center January 27th. The teams split two overtime games last year, with Fitchburg winning at home when McConnell made 42 saves and the Corsairs replying in kind on an overtime goal by Eric Frank with 30 seconds remaining. 

“Fitchburg and UMass Dartmouth are the equivalent of the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens,” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach John Rolli. “It’s been a rivalry for 23 years. For the second game in a row, we’re being called upon to beat the same team three times in one season, and I can’t express how difficult that is.”

The Corsairs’ first round result was encouraging. “We played very well against Salve, and special teams and goaltending were the key,” said Rolli. “While (junior goaltender) Jeff Green (Medway, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) wasn’t called upon to make many saves, he made some key saves, including one midway through the first period on a partial breakaway, and we went right down the ice and scored. Each succeeding round is more difficult, and we’ll be playing Wednesday against our arch rival.”

The other semi-final game Wednesday night features second-seeded Curry hosting third-seeded Wentworth. The winners will advance to the finals Saturday, March 3rd at the home venue of the highest remaining seed. The tournament winner will earn the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.


UMASS DARTMOUTH HOCKEY