For Immediate Release
Joel Baptista					Athletic Department			(508) 910-9651
Sports Information Assistant	    	 201 C Tripp Athletic Center 		  [log in to unmask]

HOCKEY DOWNS FRANKLIN PIERCE, 4-1

NEW BEDFORD, MA- The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s hockey team defeated visiting Franklin Pierce, 4-1, in an Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast game at the Stephan Hetland Memorial Arena on Saturday.

Youth was served early on Senior Night as freshman forward Paul Graham (Quincy, MA/Northern Cyclones) scored twice in the first period to give the Corsairs a 2-0 lead heading into intermission. Freshman forward Craig Cardone (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) assisted on the first goal while freshman forward Rob Dudley (Douglas, MA/Middlesex School) assisted on the second.  Graham’s first goal at 10:41 was a backhand that slid by the glove of Ravens sophomore goaltender Matt McCarthy.  His second was a wrist shot that found its way between the legs of McCarthy.  Junior defenseman Graeme Bourne (Redlands, CA/Campbell River Storm) also assisted on the play.

The Corsairs pushed the lead to 3-0, as they were five on five with the Ravens, when sophomore forward Billy Manning (Stoughton, MA/ Jr. Bandits) found the net, crossing in front of the crease and backhanding home a rebound from his brother, freshman forward Shawn Manning (Stoughton, MA/Salisbury School) and senior defenseman Eric Quinlan (Saugus, MA/Avon Old Farms) at 6:12.  Just over ten minutes later in the middle period, UMass Dartmouth swelled the lead to 4-0 when junior forward Aaron Blades (Chino, CA/Cushing Academy) stuffed one through the legs of McCarthy that trickled over the goal line.  Sophomore forward Jason Stahl (Londonberry, NH/Valley Jr. Warriors) assisted on the play.

The Ravens spoiled senior goaltender Jeff Green’s (Medway, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) chance at a shutout when they got on the board at 8:22 of the third period.  After a spectacular sprawling save by Green, Ravens’ senior forward Shane Murphy flipped home the rebound to make it 4-1.  Franklin Pierce freshman forward Anthony Chighisola and junior forward Phil LaBreck collected the assists.

“It’s another satisfying win,” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach John Rolli. “We talk about doing the little things like winning face-offs and three of our four goals came from face-off wins in the Franklin Pierce end.  We’re 8-1-1 in our last ten games, and we are entering the home stretch with only four games left.  We need to win them all and we have a big test this Thursday against Wentworth.”

The Corsairs outshot the Ravens, 33-30. Green had 29 saves for the Corsairs while McCarthy stopped 29 for the Ravens. 

“Jeff Green played real well in goal,” said Rolli. “And Paul Graham is a big kid, who’s a Milan Lucic type of player.  He’ll go hard to the net and tonight he knocked in two off of face off plays.  You can’t put a value on that.” 

The Corsairs are now 14-5-2 and 11-1-1 in the ECAC Northeast, while the Ravens are now 5-13-2 and 4-8-2. UMass Dartmouth will return to action when they visit Wentworth in an Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast game Thursday evening. Franklin Pierce will host Southern New Hampshire in a conference game on Thursday.


				UMASS DARTMOUTH HOCKEY


Franklin Pierce (5-13-2,4-8-2 ECAC NE) vs. UMass Dartmouth (14-5-2,11-1-1 ECAC)
 Date: Feb 07, 2009  Location: New Bedford, MA       Arena: Hetland Ice Arena
 Attendance:511   Start time:4:30 PM   End time:6:45 PM   Total time:2:15

 Goals by Period       1  2  3  Tot
 ----------------------------------
 Franklin Pierce.....  0  0  1 -  1
 UMass Dartmouth.....  2  2  0 -  4

   1st period - 1, UMDM, Paul Graham/4 (Craig Cardone/2, Rob Dudley/2)
10:41. 2, UMDM, Paul Graham/5 (Rob Dudley/3, Graeme Bourne/5) 18:20.
Penalties - Jay Stempniak, FPUM (elbowing) 11:59; Eric Quinlan, UMDM
(tripping) 14:53.

   2nd period - 3, UMDM, Billy Manning/8 (Shawn Manning/8, Eric
Quinlan/2) 6:12. 4, UMDM, Aaron Blades/3 (Jason Stahl/12) 16:17.
Penalties - Jeff Kasper, FPUM (hooking) 4:12; Matt Serino, UMDM
(elbowing) 5:46; Billy Manning, UMDM (slashing) 8:00; Joe Hill, UMDM
(cross-checking) 20:00.

   3rd period - 5, FPUM, Shane Murphy/6 (Anthony Chighisola/12, Phil
LaBreck/15) 8:22. Penalties - Graeme Bourne, UMDM (holding) 9:52; Jay
Stempniak, FPUM (slashing) 13:49; Kyle Kruse, FPUM (cross-checking)
16:03; Sean Carroll, FPUM (high sticking) 16:03; Giancarlo Capodanno,
UMDM (high sticking) 16:03; Matt Serino, UMDM (unsportsmanlike
conduct) 16:03; Mike Owens, UMDM (elbowing) 17:37; Jay Stempniak, FPUM
(interference) 19:56.

   Shots on goal - FPUM 8-5-17 30; UMDM 12-14-7 33.

   Power plays - FPUM 0 of 4; UMDM 0 of 6.

   Penalties - FPUM 6 (12 min); UMDM 8 (16 min).

   Goalies - FPUM, Matt McCarthy 0-1-0 (60:00 minutes, 33 shots-29
saves); UMDM, Jeff Green 7-2-0 (60:00, 30-29).