Box Score NEW BEFORD, Mass. – Junior Max Lorenzen (Leesburg, Va.) converted a power-play chance with two minutes and 40 seconds remaining in regulation to lift Fitchburg State University over the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's men's ice hockey team on Saturday afternoon at Hetland Arena, 3-2.
The game-winning strike developed off a shot attempt by junior John Celli (Leominster, Mass.), who had previously deadlocked the game at two-all with a pair of scores in the second. Celli fired a close shot on net, but was turned away by JJ Solloway (Derry, N.H). The rebound caromed off of the Corsair net-minder's pad, right to the stick of Lorenzen, who buried the decisive goal.
UMass Dartmouth falls to 6-11-2 on the year and 5-5-2 in the conference, while Fitchburg State improves to 8-8-2 and 6-4-1. In the MASCAC standings, the Corsairs currently sit in a fourth place tie with Westfield State, while the Falcons take over sole possession of third.
Following a scoreless opening period, the Corsairs registered two goals in the opening four minutes and 14 seconds of the second. Sophomore Matt Baldino (Woburn, Mass.) kicked off the spurt, when the forward beat the Fitchburg net-minder for his fifth strike of the season at the one minute, 22 second mark. Shaun Walters (Plymouth, Mich.) and Shayne Bailey (Quincy, Mass.) earned helpers on the play. A few minutes later, junior Brandon Gilmore (Quincy, Mass.) redirected a shot attempt from teammate Casey Shea (Woburn, Mass.) into the back of the net to give the home team a two score lead.
UMass Dartmouth appeared to be on the verge of sailing away with the contest; however the Falcons soared back in the latter half of the second stanza. With a man-advantage, Celli lit up the lamp at the 13 minute, six second mark to cut the deficit in half. Not even two minutes later, Celli put home his ninth score of the year off a feed from James Gordon (Hingham, Mass.) and Ryan Connolly (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.). The two teams entered the final period with the score knotted at two.
After Lorenzen put Fitchburg State on top, the Corsairs pulled their goalie in the final minute, but were unsuccessful with the man-advantage on the attack.
In net, Solloway recorded 35 saves, while Ryan Wysocki (Grand Rapids, Mich.) stopped 40 shots to earn his seventh win of the season.
The Falcons took advantage of their power-play chances, converting two-of-five opportunities, while their penalty kill unit was a perfect six-for-six.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Feb. 5, when the Corsairs host conference opponent Worcester State. Fitchburg State host Framingham State on Tuesday at 7:30 pm.
