Box Score NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- Senior Sean Leonard (Rockaway Park, N.Y.) netted a goal and four assists for a career-high five points, while freshman Daniel Davidson (Surrey, B.C.) stopped all 24 shots for his fourth straight shutout start to lead third-seeded UMass Dartmouth to a 6-0 victory over sixth-seeded Worcester State in quarterfinal round play of the 2020 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Ice Hockey Championships Saturday afternoon at Hetland Arena.
The host Corsairs, who improve to 12-11-3 overall on the season, advance to Tuesday night's MASCAC semifinal round and will travel to second-seeded Fitchburg State for a 7:00 pm EST faceoff. The visiting Lancers conclude their campaign at 6-18-2 overall.
Leonard gave UMass Dartmouth the only tally it would need 4:27 into the contest on the power play, as five of the Corsairs' six goals on the day came on the man-advantage. Freshmen John Grealish (Bakersfield, Calif.) and Austin Miller (Meridian, Idaho) added markers in the opening 20 minutes to action to stake the hosts to a 3-0 cushion, and that margin was extended to 5-0 in the second period on goals off the sticks of junior Dillon Radin (Long Beach, N.Y.) and freshman Michael Perrone (Mt. Sinai, N.Y.). Sophomore Jimmy Pelton (Syracuse, N.Y.) capped the scoring with a tally that came 5:45 into the final frame, and Davidson took care of the rest between the pipes for UMass Dartmouth, as he has stopped all 122 shots faced in his last four starts dating back to February 15th.
Leonard had a hand in every goal except the final one for the Corsairs, who received three assists from his senior brother Steven Leonard (Rockaway Park, N.Y.) along with two points each from Perrone and Miller. Senior Cameron Mack (Long Beach, Calif.) chipped in with a helper as well for the hosts, who held a 45-24 advantage in shots on goal on a day when each team won 36 faceoffs. Freshman Nevin Tardif (Dunstable, Mass.) made 25 saves in 35 minutes of action in the setback for Worcester State, which received 14 stops from senior Josh Reinstein (Woodland Hills, Calif.).
UMass Dartmouth and Fitchburg State battled to a 1-1-1 draw in their three regular season matchups, as each team won on its home ice before the squads skated to a scoreless tie last Saturday in Fitchburg.
(Photo Credit: Hana Hershey '21)
