Junior forward Jeff Grant (Burlington, MA/Austin Prep) deflected home a shot midway through the third period and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s hockey team held on to defeat visiting Salve Regina, 5-0,  in their first round ECAC Northeast Conference playoff game at the Stephen Hetland Memorial Ice Arena Saturday. 

Grant tipped a shot by sophomore defenseman Tyler Crocker (Wakefield, MA/Wakefield HS) past Seahawk goaltender Mike O’Brien at the 8:28 mark of the third period to break a 2-all tie and give the Corsairs the lead for good. Crocker had taken a pass from junior forward Kyle McCullough (Danvers, MA/Boston Jr. Blackhawks) and fired a wrist shot towards the net.

Salve Regina took a 1-0 lead on their first shot of the game. Conor McCahill tipped a slap shot by Dan Conley past UMass Dartmouth freshman goaltender Jon Dryjowicz-Burek (Ludlow, MA/Springfield Jr. Falcons) at 3:23 of the first period. 

UMD tied the score at the 11:05 mark when sophomore forward Paul Garabedian (Belmont, MA/Belmont HS) scored on the rebound of a shot by senior defenseman D.J. Aucoin (Marlboro, MA/Waltham HS). Freshman forward Chris Shore (West Haven, CT/Winchendon Academy) also assisted.

Senior forward Eric Frank (Waltham, MA/Traverse City Enforcers) gave the Corsairs a 2-1 lead when he took a pass from junior defenseman Paul Carr (Springfield, MA/Springfield Cathedral HS), drove to the side of the net, and slid a backhander past O’Brien. Richie Rice tied the score for SRU at the 9:39 mark, converting a pass from Peter Collins.

“We were able to get a victory against a very game Salve team, and that’s what we were looking for,” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach John Rolli. “I’m glad we got out of there with a win. Salve came to play, and they stayed in the game right to the end. At this point, your record before the playoffs doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you’re 1-0 and you live to play another day.”

With the victory, the Corsairs won their 18th consecutive game and extended the longest winning streak in the nation. They also earned the right to host the lowest remaining seeded team in the ECAC Northeast Conference playoffs in the next round.

UMass Dartmouth out shot the Seahawks, 28-18. Dryjowicz-Burek made 16 saves, while O’Brien made 25 saves. 

The Corsairs improved to 22-4-0 with the victory, winning their 19th in their last 20 games. Salve Regina fell to 9-12-3 overall and saw their season conclude. The Corsairs will return to action when they host an ECAC Northeast semi-final round playoff game next Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Hetland Ice Arena.

UMASS DARTMOUTH HOCKEY


BOX SCORE

Salve Regina					1	1	0-2
UMass Dartmouth       			1	1	1-3

 FIRST PERIOD

1, SRU – Conor McCahill (Dan Conley) 3:33
2, UMD – Paul Garabedian (D.J. Aucoin, Chris Shore) 11:05

SECOND PERIOD

3, UMD – Eric Frank (Paul Carr) 4:03
4, SRU – Richie Rice (Peter Collins) 9:39

THIRD PERIOD

5, UMD – Jeff Grant (Tyler Crocker, Kyle McCullough) 8:28

SHOTS: SRU- 18; UMD -28.
SAVES: SRU – Mike O’Brien, 25. UMD –Jon Dryjowicz-Burek, 16.
PENALTIES/MINUTES: SRU – 8/16; UMD – 6/12.
POWER-PLAY GOALS/OPPORTUNITIES: SRU- 0/3. UMD – 0/5.