Box Score NEW BEFORD, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's men's ice hockey team bookended the second intermission with four goals in under four minutes to lead the Corsairs to an 8-2, conference victory over Plymouth State University on Saturday afternoon at Hetland Arena.
The Panthers remain atop the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference Standings with a 6-2-1 record, one point ahead of Westfield State. UMass Dartmouth improved to 4-3-2 and sits three points behind Plymouth State in third place.
After the Panthers trimmed the deficit to 4-1 with an Andrew Wigg (Lantz, N.S.) goal at the 15 minute, 22 second mark in the second, freshman Brandon Berkley (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and sophomore Matt Baldino (Woburn, Mass.) each redirected moving pucks past the visitors' net-minders to give the Corsairs a 6-1 advantage heading into the third period.
UMass Dartmouth opened the final stanza by putting two in the back of the net only 35 seconds into the period. Baldino registered his second score of the game and, 13 seconds later, junior Brandon Gilmore (Quincy, Mass.) recorded his fourth goal in three games as a Corsair.
To open the game, UMass Dartmouth scored four consecutive goals, behind two from freshman Casey Shea (Woburn, Mass.) and one apiece from Mike Restuccia (Malden, Mass.) and freshmen Jerry Laakso (Tampere, Finland).
Plymouth State capped the scoring for the game when junior Josh Woody (Sunderland, Md.) finished off a cross-net pass from Wiggs at the 11 minute, seven second mark of the third period.
In net, sophomore JJ Solloway (Derry, N.H.) turned away 43 shot attempts while surrendering two goals in 60 minutes of play. Solloway compiled double-digit saves in each period, including a game-high 16 in the third. The Panthers split time in the crease amongst three goalies; Mac Haight (Sammamish, Wash.), Gordon Ceasar (Oak Park, Calif.) and Zac Enstrom (S. Windsor, Conn.), who combined for 18 total saves.
The Corsairs offensive attack produced an extremely efficient effort, scoring eight goals on only 26 shot attempts. In its last two conference wins, UMass Dartmouth has accumulated 17 goals, while holding opponents to only four. Plymouth held a significant shot advantage, outshooting the home team by 19 attempts, 45-26.
Nine different Corsairs tallied at least one mark in the assist column, led by three each from senior Shaun Walters (Plymouth, Mich.) and sophomore Mike Kelly (Stoneham, Mass.). UMass Dartmouth took advantage of its power play opportunities, converting three of four chances.
The Corsairs return to action at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, when they travel to Salem State.
