Box Score NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth ice hockey team scored five unanswered goals to erase an early 3-1 deficit to power past visiting Stonehill College, 6-3, this evening at Hetland Arena. Freshman Jaret Babych's (North Vancouver, B.C.) goal at the 9:32 mark of the third period snapped a 3-3 tie.
The Corsairs captured their second straight and fourth win in their past five contests to improve to 6-10-2, while the Skyhawks fell to 9-5-3.
UMass Dartmouth's top line served as the catalyst for the host's offensive production as senior Shaun Walters (Plymouth, Mich.) and Babych each tallied three points. Walters bookended the scoring, while Babych sparked the three-goal, third period outburst with the eventual game-winner. Junior Brandon Gilmore (Quincy, Mass.) turned in a balanced performance with a goal and an assist, while sophomore Mike Kelly (Stoneham, Mass.) and junior John Sartell (Wakefield, Mass.) each found the back of the net.
Sophomore JJ Solloway (Derry, N.H.) made 34 stops, including the final 31, to earn the victory.
The Corsairs cracked the scoring column on their first attempt of the night, as Walters finished a feed just outside the crease from junior Mike Restuccia (Malden, Mass.) and Babych 12 seconds into regulation.
However, the Skyhawks exploded for three first-period goals in the span of just one minute, 54 seconds to take a 3-1 advantage. Junior Thomas Jenkins (Canton, Mass.) leveled the contest at 1-all at the 2:26 mark, while classmate Kevin Airoldi (Kennebunk, Maine) gave the visitors a 2-1 lead 68 seconds later. With the lamp still lit, junior Garrett White (Wakefield, Mass.) capped the run with his sixth marker of the season.
UMass Dartmouth utilized its special teams to regain its composure. Freshman Casey Shea (Woburn, Mass.) made a strong run down the right flank and found Gilmore camped out behind the net. Gilmore delivered a cross-ice pass to the dot, where Kelly unleashed his sixth marker of the campaign to convert the extra-man opportunity and cap the first period scoring.
The Corsairs registered the lone tally of the second staza, when Gilmore cashed in on the power-play at the 8:10 mark to send both teams into the final intermission knotted at 3-all.
After killing off three penalities in the opening seven minutes of the third, UMass Dartmouth took its final lead of the night. Babych pounced on junior Zac Kroll's (Anchorage, Alaska) rebound and beat the Stonehill netminder from point-blank to notch his sixth goal of the season.
The Corsairs demonstrated their quick-strike capabilites, as the hosts added an insurance marker just 72 seconds later. Sartell logged his fourth marker of the season, completing passes from freshman Brandon Berkley (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and sophomore Matt Baldino (Woburn, Mass.). Walters' empty-net goal with less than three minutes remaining in regulation sealed the non-conference victory.
UMass Dartmouth held a 47-37 advantage in shots. The Corsairs capitalized on 2-of-7 power play opportunties, while successfully killing off all seven Skyhawk attempts.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, when the Corsairs host MASCAC rival Fitchburg State.
