Box Score NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – UMass Dartmouth fired 42 shots on Tuesday evening, but Framingham State was able to make the most of its 24 opportunities, scoring three goals to shutout the Corsairs in the final regular-season matchup for the two teams.
With the loss and Plymouth State's victory over Westfield State, UMass Dartmouth secures the No. 4 seed and home ice for the 2016 MASCAC Hockey Tournament quarterfinal on Saturday. The Corsairs will host No. 5 seed Westfield State at 4 p.m., which they have defeated by a 4-2 score in the squads' last two meetings this season. The winner is scheduled to meet No. 2 seed Salem State next Tuesday.
Framingham State earns the No. 6 seed for the tournament and will travel to No. 3 seed Fitchburg State on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Framingham State junior Mark Essery (Rockfall, Conn.) powered the Ram offense on the evening, notching two goals and an assist. Goalkeeper Alessio Muggli (Reuti, Switzerland) was rock-solid between the pipes, registering 42 saves including 17 in each of the last two periods.
Despite a plethora of Corsair opportunities in the first two periods, it was the Rams who sparked the hot start. Senior Richard O'Connor (North Andover, Mass.) put Framingham State on the board midway through the first, unloading from the slot off assists from Essery and sophomore Tyler Gmerek (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) to put the visitors on the board.
The Rams upped the lead by another with a minute remaining in the first, as Essery knocked the puck down on a two-on-one breakaway, beating goalkeeper Drew Michals (Newton, Mass.). Freshman Ryan McDonough (Dorchester, Mass.) and junior Vaughn Guetens (Cheshire, Conn.) were credited with the helpers.
UMass Dartmouth turned up the heat in the second period, unleashing an offensive onslaught to outshoot the visitors 17-3, though neither team could find the back of the net.
The competition was more even in the final stanza, with UMass Dartmouth registering 17 shots to the Rams' 12. Following a timeout with just over three minutes remaining in the game, UMass Dartmouth emptied the net, but the Rams took advantage, with Essery tacking on his second goal of the night on a cross-ice pass from O'Connor.
Michals finished with 21 stops for the Corsairs, including 11 in the third period. Both teams went a combined 0-3 on power play chances on the evening.
Prior to the contest, UMass Dartmouth honored its six seniors, playing in their final regular-season contest at Hetland Arena: Garrett Allen (Dartmouth, Mass.), Billy Boudreau (Newburyport, Mass.), Mike Grassi (Reading, Mass.), Mike Restuccia (Malden, Mass.), John Sartell (Wakefield, Mass.) and Evangelos Stefanou (Tabernacle, N.J.).
