For Immediate Release
Contact Dave Geringer, Sports Information Director, (508) 990-9651 [log in to unmask]
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
HOCKEY DEFEATS FITCHBURG STATEIN ECAC NE SEMIS, 5-2
NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA-The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's hockey team scored twice in each of the first two periods and defeated visiting Fitchburg State, 5-2, in an Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast semi-final playoff game at the Stephan Hetland Memorial Ice Arena Wednesday night.
The Corsairs scored twice in the first period and took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Junior forward Chris Shore (West Haven, CT/Winchendon Academy) gave UMass Dartmouth a 1-0 lead when he flipped the rebound of sophomore forward Matt Serino’s (Saugus, MA/Avon Old Farms) shot past FSC senior goaltender Devan McConnell (Lake Stevens, WA/St. Louis Jr. Blues) at the 15:20 mark. Freshman forward Joe Hill (Newburyport, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) made it 2-0 at 17:09 when he re-directed home a pass from freshman forward Jason Stahl (Londonderry, NH/Valley Jr. Warriors). Freshman defenseman Mickey Dudley (Douglas, MA/Boston Jr. Bruins also assisted.
UMass Dartmouth scored twice more in the second period and led, 4-1, after two. Senior defenseman Ross Goff (Seattle, WA/Fernie Ghost Riders) put Fitchburg State on the board when he scored a power play goal at 1:40 of the second period. Freshman forward Billy Manning (Stoughton, MA.Bridgewater Jr. Bandits) restored the Corsairs’ two goal advantage when he cut in front and tucked home a backhand shot at 4:39. Sophomore forward Matt Berard (Calgary, AB/Berkshire Academy) made it 4-1 when he scored on hos own rebound at 9:01. Manning and sophomore defenseman Paul Moran (Rockville Centre, NY/Boston Jr. Bulldogs drew the assists.
Junior forward Nick Paquin (Warwick, RI/Winchendon Academy) slammed home a pass by Shore at 1:22 of the third period to make it 5-1. Junior defenseman Patrick Dolan (St. Louis, MO/St. Louis Jr. Blues) scored a power play goal for the Falcons at 19:46 of the final period to account for the final score.
“We played very smart hockey,” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach John Rolli. “Any time your fourth line gets two goals it’s good, our power play goal at the end of the first period was a back door play that was so good it was intimidating, and Billy Manning’s goal in the second period after they got the power play goal was huge. Jeff Green did a very good job in goal, and I thought we were quicker to the puck and didn’t allow them a lot of space.”
The Corsairs converted one of two power play chances while stopping three of five FSC chances. UMass Dartmouth out shot the Falcons, 30-20. Green made 18 saves for the Corsairs, while McConnell made 25 stops for Fitchburg State.
UMass Dartmouth improved to 17-8-1 with the victory, while Fitchburg State dropped to 13-10-4 with the defeat. The Corsairs advanced and will host the ECAC Northeast Conference championship game against either Suffolk or Nichols Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at the Hetland Arena. The game was the final action of the season for the Falcons.
UMASS DARTMOUTH HOCKEY
Fitchburg State (13-10-4) vs. UMass Dartmouth (17-8-1)
Date: Mar 05, 2008 Location: New Bedford, MA Arena: Hetland Ice Arena
Attendance:766 Start time:7:30 pm End time:9:27 pm Total time:1:57
Goals by Period 1 2 3 Tot
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Fitchburg State..... 0 1 1 - 2
UMass Dartmouth..... 2 2 1 - 5
1st period - 1, UMDM, Chris Shore/7 (Matt Serino/8) 15:20. 2, UMDM,
Joseph Hill/13 (Jason Stahl/16, Mickey Dudley/14) 17:09 (pp).
Penalties - Christopher Brecken, FITM (high sticking) 16:27.
2nd period - 3, FITM, Ross Goff/1 (Billy Pescosolido/10,
Christopher Brecken/10) 1:40 (pp). 4, UMDM, Billy Manning/4 4:39. 5,
UMDM, Matt Berard/3 (Paul Moran/7, Billy Manning/9) 9:01. Penalties -
Wayne Bonkowski, FITM (roughing) :42; Nick Paquin, UMDM (roughing)
:42; Chris Shore, UMDM (tripping) 1:15; Adam Horgan, UMDM (tripping)
5:17; Stephen Schofield, FITM (unsportsmanlike conduct) 6:25; Matt
Serino, UMDM (hooking) 6:25; Joseph Hill, UMDM (tripping) 11:39; Ryan
Tierney, FITM (tripping) 14:15.
3rd period - 6, UMDM, Nick Paquin/10 (Chris Shore/6, Jonathan
Finn/8) 1:22. 7, FITM, Patrick Dolan/5 (John Goffredo/18, Chris
Riggs/25) 19:46 (pp). Penalties - Paul Moran, UMDM (tripping) 16:38;
Matt Berard, UMDM (high sticking) 18:33.
Shots on goal - FITM 6-5-9 20; UMDM 13-10-7 30.
Power plays - FITM 2 of 5; UMDM 1 of 2.
Penalties - FITM 4 (8 min); UMDM 7 (14 min).
Goalies - FITM, Devan McConnell 13-8-4 (60:00 minutes, 30 shots-25
saves); UMDM, Jeff Green 16-8-1 (60:00, 20-18).
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