Dave Geringer							Sports Information Director		
201 C Tripp Athletic Center					[log in to unmask]

       HOCKEY DOWNS FITCHBURG STATE, 3-1

NEW BEDFORD, MA- Senior forward Jason Stahl (Londonderry, NH/Valley Jr. Warriors) scored two goals and senior goaltender Collin Tracy Medford, MA/Medford HS) made 28 saves to lead the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's hockey team to a 3-1 victory over visiting Fitchburg State in a Massachusetts Collegiate Athletic Conference game at the Stephan Hetland Memorial Ice Arena Thursday evening.

Stahl scored to make it 2-0 late in the second period. Senior forward Joe Hill (Newburyport, MA/Valley Jr. Mustangs) won a face off in the offensive zone; he fired home a wrist shot at the 18:34 mark. Stahl scored an empty net goal to clinch the decision at 19:11 of the third period. 

The goal came after Tracy kept UMass Dartmouth ahead when he foiled a penalty shot earlier in the period. Sophomore forward Justin Quinn (Braintree, MA/Braintree HS) was awarded a penalty shot when he was tripped while breaking in on Tracy. On the penalty shot, Quinn made a move from his forehand to his backhand, but failed to finish the play.

UMass Dartmouth grabbed the early lead. when senior defenseman Adam Horgan (Clayton, NC/Jersey Hitmen) scored on an odd-man rush, re-directing home a pass from junior forward Rob Dudley (Douglas, MA/Middlesex School) with each team a man short at 9:02 of the first period. Freshman defenseman Ryan Hurd (Mound, MN/Rochester Ice Hawks) also drew an assist.

The Falcons scored 2:45 into the third period when freshman defenseman Shawn Bradley (Tewksbury, MA/Central Catholic HS) fired home a wrist shot from the point. Junior forward Stephen Oldfield (Leominster, MA/S NHU) and junior defenseman Travis Bertolotti (Miller Place, NY/New York Bobcats) assisted. 

"It was a typical UMD-Fitchburg State rivalry type of game," said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach John Rolli. "They caught us up there last semester and they beat us, 4-1, and we were fortunate to win tonight, 3-1. There’s a lot of hockey left to be played. Jason Stahl scored two goals, and Collin Tracy bailed us out. I was pleased that we were able to come out with a win."

The Falcons out shot UMD, 29-25. Senior Robert Vorse (Leominster, MA/Bay State Breakers) made 22 stops for Fitchburg State.

UMD improved to 13-5-1 and 8-3-1 in the MASCAC with the victory, while FSU fell to 13-5-1 and 7-4-1 with the defeat. UMass Dartmouth will return to action when they host Salem State Saturday. The Falcons will host Framingham State next Thursday.

UMASS DARTMOUTH HOCKEY