Joel Baptista
Sports Information Assistant	201 C Tripp Athletic Center		[log in to unmask]


HOCKEY DOWNS PLYMOUTH STATE, 3-2
NEW BEDFORD, MA –The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's hockey team defeated visiting Plymouth State, 3-2, in a Massachusetts Collegiate Athletic Conference game at the Stephan Hetland Memorial Ice Arena Thursday.
The Corsairs managed only five shots in the opening period but made two of the count staking them to a 2-0 lead at the first intermission.  Junior forward Dave McDonald (Wakefield, MA/Valley Jr Warriors-EJHL) scored the first goal at 5:49 assisted by sophomore Ryan Ruddock (Amesbury, MA/Eastern Kodiaks-IJHL). 

The Corsairs’ power play provided the second goal.  After Panthers sophomore Travis Stevens (Montclair, CA/Topeka Roadrunners) was called for hooking at 12:51, UMass went on the offensive with junior forward Nick Marquis (Londonderry, NH/Valley Jr Warriors-EJHL) sliding one past Panthers junior goalie Jack Astedt (Angelholm, Sweden/Rogle BK J20 Super Elite) at 13:36 assisted by senior forward Rob Dudley (Douglas, MA/Middlesex School) and freshman defenseman Steve Ginand (Milford, MA/Northern Cyclones-AtJHL).
The Corsairs pushed the lead to 3-0, scoring what proved to be the game winner at 13:36 of the middle period.  After Corsairs senior forward Andrew Pontes (New Bedford, MA/Winchendon School) won the face off to the right of Astedt, sophomore forward Greg Girtatos (Tyngsboro, MA/Bishop Guertin HS) fed Ginand, who ripped one top shelf past the glove side of Astedt.
The Panthers made things interesting in the third period scoring two goals in just over a minute span.  The first came on the power play when freshman defenseman Zach Sarig (Reading, PA/Valley Jr Warriors) took a pass from Stevens and put a one-timer past the stick of Corsairs junior goalie Ryan Williams (Milton, ON/Huntsville Otters-OPJHL) from the top of the left circle at 5:56.  Plymouth State cut the deficit to a goal at 7:04.  Sophomore forward Phil Arnone (Litchfield, NH/Winchendon School) scored, assisted by junior defenseman Richie Zobak (Evergreen Park, IL/Bay State Breakers) from an almost impossible angle as his shot went off the backside of Williams and into the net.
 “I give this team huge praise,” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach John Rolli. “We kept scrapping and battling knowing a 3-0 lead might not hold up.  They scored two quick goals, one on the power play and one from a tough angle and usually that hurts a team, but everyone in the lineup gave us a will to win effort.  I couldn’t be prouder of this team.”
 The Corsairs were outshot by the Panthers, 31-27. Williams made 29 saves, while Astedt stopped 24 shots. 
UMass Dartmouth improved to 11-5-1 and 7-3-1 in the MASCAC with the victory, while Plymouth State dropped to 9-6-2 and 6-3-2 with the defeat. UMD will return to action when they visit Framingham State Saturday evening. Plymouth State will visit Fitchburg State Saturday.
                                                            UMASS DARTMOUTH HOCKEY

Plymouth State (9-6-2, 6-3-2- MASCAC) vs. UMass Dartmouth (11-5-1, 7-3-1 MASCAC)
 Date: Jan 26, 2012  Location: New Bedford, MA       Arena: Hetland Ice Arena
 Attendance:198   Start time:7:30 pm   End time:9:46 pm   Total time:2:16

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

   1st period - 1, UMDM, Dave McDonald/7 (Ryan Ruddock, Zach Hepler)
5:49. 2, UMDM, Nick Marquis/4 (Rob Dudley, Steve Ginand) 13:36 (pp).
Penalties - Steve Ginand, UMDM (slashing) 8:12; Travis Stevens, PSU
(hooking) 12:51.

   2nd period - 3, UMDM, Steve Ginand/6 (Greg Girtatos, Andrew Pontes)
13:36. Penalties - Zach Sarig, PSU (holding) 1:24; Steve Ginand, UMDM
(tripping) 5:19; Zach Sarig, PSU (boarding) 7:23; Zach Sarig, PSU
(10-minute misconduct) 7:23; Andrew Pontes, UMDM (elbowing) 18:41.

   3rd period - 4, PSU, Zach Sarig/1 (Travis Stevens) 5:52 (pp). 5,
PSU, Phil Arnone/4 (Richie Zobak) 7:04. Penalties - Ryan Ruddock, UMDM
(cross-checking) 5:22; Rob Dudley, UMDM (hooking) 14:47; Alex Cottle,
PSU (slashing) 15:47; Mike Owens, UMDM (holding the stick) 19:53.

   Shots on goal - PSU 16-7-8 31; UMDM 5-13-9 27.

   Power plays - PSU 1 of 6; UMDM 1 of 4.

   Penalties - PSU 5 (18 min); UMDM 6 (12 min).

   Goalies - PSU, Jack Astedt 9-5-2 (59:44 minutes, 27 shots-24 saves)
, EMPTY NET (00:16, 0-0); UMDM, Ryan Williams 9-5-1 (60:00, 31-29).