For Immediate Release
Contact Dave Geringer, Sports Information Director, (508) 990-9651  [log in to unmask]
Saturday, February 23, 2008					

HOCKEY DEFEATS NICHOLS, 3-2

POMFRET, CT- Senior defenseman Jon Finn (Warwick, RI/Boston Harborwolves) scored the game-winning goal in the second period and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's hockey team held on to defeat host Nichols, 3-2, in an Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast game at Jahn Rink Saturday night. The victory gave the Corsairs the second seed in the eight-team Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast post-season tournament that begins Saturday, March 1st.

Finn fired a slap shot from the point past Bison goaltender Keith Fink at 4:28 of the second period to break a 2-2 tie.

Each team scored twice in the first period. Senior forward Jeff Grant (Burlington, MA/Austin Prep) gave the Corsairs a 1-0 lead at the 4:19 mark, converting passes from freshman forward Billy Carroll (Stoughton, MA/Bridgewater Jr. Bandits) and senior defenseman Tyler Crocker (Wakefield, MA/Wakefield HS).

The Bison came back to take the lead when they scored twice within 41 seconds. Jean-Marc Biron tied the score at 10:18, and Anthony Monte put Nichols on top with a goal at 11:09. Freshman forward Joe Hill (Newburyport, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) tied the score with a power play goal at 16:53.

“It was one of the gutsiest efforts of all time from a UMass Dartmouth team,” said Corsair Head Coach John Rolli. “(Junior goaltender) Jeff Green (Medway, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) stood on his head and played a great game.”

UMass Dartmouth out shot Nichols, 23-21. Junior goaltender Jeff Green (Medway, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) made 19 saves for the Corsairs, while Keith Fink made 20 stops for the Bison.

UMass Dartmouth improved to 15-8-1 and 13-3-0 in the ECAC Northeast with the victory, while Nichols dropped to 18-6-1 and 12-4-0 with the defeat. The Corsairs will return to action when they host an ECAC Northeast Conference playoff game next Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at the Hetland Arena.

UMASS DARTMOUTH HOCKEY

 UMass Dartmouth (15-8-1, 13-3-0) vs. Nichols (18-6-1, 12-4-0)
 Date: Feb 23, 2008  Location: Pomfret, CT           Arena: Jahn Rink
 Attendance:334   Start time:8:30 pm   End time:10:45 pm  Total time:2:15

 Goals by Period       1  2  3  Tot
 ----------------------------------
 UMass Dartmouth.....  2  1  0 -  3
 Nichols.............  2  0  0 -  2

   1st period - 1, UMDM, Jeff Grant/17 (Billy Manning, Tyler Crocker)
4:19. 2, NICM, Jean-Marc Biron/8 (Matt Roberts, Billy Sabia) 10:28. 3,
NICM, Anthony Monte/19 (Zeke Costello, Ryan Gervais) 11:09. 4, UMDM,
Joseph Hill/10 (Jason Stahl, Jeff Grant) 16:53 (pp). Penalties - Pat
Welch, UMDM (hooking) 7:19; Joseph Hill, UMDM (cross-checking) 11:58;
John Haley, NICM (interference) 15:43; Adam Horgan, UMDM (hooking)
18:18; Team, NICM (too many on ice) 19:26.

   2nd period - 5, UMDM, Jonathan Finn/3 (Jason Stahl, Jeff Grant)
4:28. Penalties - Graeme Bourne, UMDM (holding) 1:40.

   3rd period - Penalties - Tyler Crocker, UMDM (high sticking) 4:45.

   Shots on goal - UMDM 11-9-3 23; NICM 9-4-9 22.

   Power plays - UMDM 1 of 2; NICM 0 of 5.

   Penalties - UMDM 5 (10 min); NICM 2 (4 min).

   Goalies - UMDM, Jeff Green 14-8-1 (60:00 minutes, 22 shots-20
saves); NICM, Keith Fink 15-6-1 (59:45, 23-20) , EMPTY NET (00:15,
0-0).