Box Score NEW BEFORD, Mass. – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth sophomore Brandon Berkley (Scottsdale, Ariz.) jammed home the game-winning goal two minutes, 10 seconds into overtime to lift the Corsairs to a 3-2 victory over Salem State University Saturday afternoon in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference men's ice hockey contest at Hetland Arena.
UMass Dartmouth earned its first victory of the season to improve to 1-3-2 (1-2-1 MASCAC), while Salem State fell to 3-2-0 (2-2-0 MASCAC). The Corsairs snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Vikings, registering their first win since a 5-4 triple overtime victory in the semifinals of the 2013 MASCAC tournament on Feb. 26, 2013.
UMass Dartmouth snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, when Head Coach John Rolli pulled goaltender Drew Michals (Newton, Mass.) with 1:07 left in the third period to gain the extra attacker. Senior Brandon Gilmore (Quincy, Mass.) was able to put his second goal of the game in the back of the net at a crucial moment, when he recovered the wide shot from junior Mike Kelly (Stoneham, Mass.) that ricocheted off the back boards with only 35 seconds left in regulation.
That set the stage for Berkley in extra time, as fellow sophomore Jerry Laakso (Tampere, Finland) dug out the puck from a scrum in the corner, skated behind the net and laced a pass to Berkley who tipped the puck past the Viking goalkeeper.
Both Salem State goals were registered in the second period, with Derek Makimaa (Swartz Creek, Mich.) evening the score from a Cam Moniz (Seekonk, Mass.) following Gilmore's game-opening score in the first period. Michael Chen (Rockville, Md.) then put the Vikings up a goal, netting his first score of the season at the 13:31 minute mark.
Michals picked up his first victory while donning the Corsair sweater, turning aside 33 shots. Salem State junior goalkeeper Marcus Zelzer (Green Bay, Wis.) recorded 31 stops in between the pipes for the visitors.
Gilmore paced the Corsairs with five shots on the night, while five Corsairs earned assists. Neither team was able to convert on power plays, with a combined six opportunities.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 24, when the Corsairs host No. 6 Babson College. The puck is scheduled to be dropped at 7:30 p.m.
