Box Score WINCHENDON, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth men's ice hockey program completed the 2020-21 shortened season with an unblemished record after defeating Franklin Pierce, 4-2, this evening at Jason Ritchie Arena on the campus of Winchendon Academy. The Corsairs won their third consecutive contest to raise their record to 3-0, while the Ravens fell to 1-3.
UMass Dartmouth featured a well-balanced attack as four players found the back of the net, while nine players registered at least one point. Junior
Blake Harlow (Pelham, Ala.) and classmate
Jimmy Pelton (Syracuse, N.Y.) penned a marker in their ledger for the second straight game, while freshman
Michael Mania (Bayville, N.Y.) potted his first collegiate goal to close out the scoring.
The Corsairs jumped out to an early advantage at 6:28 of the first period, when Harlow converted a feed from classmate
Melker Kroon (Malmo, Sweden). Franklin Pierce provided the equalizer nearly 10 minutes later, but the visitors quickly regained their lead within 51 seconds. Junior
Derek Britner (Salem, N.H.) tallied his first goal of the campaign, depositing a rebound off the stick of freshman
Zach Tarantino (Jackson, N.J.) to give UMassD a 2-1 advantage heading into the locker room.
The Ravens took advantage of a power-play opportunity at the start of the second stanza to forge a 2-2 tie. The ice began to tilt in the Corsairs favor in the second period as UMass Dartmouth held a 15-6 advantage in shots. The Corsairs efforts were rewarded when Pelton gave the visitors a lead they wouldn't relinquish with his third marker of the season at 12:38. Freshman
Elliot Burgin (Columbus, Ohio) started the decisive scoring chance with a pass down low to sophomore
Justin Weinbrenner (Allison Park, Pa.), who sent a slick centering pass to Pelton.
UMass Dartmouth continued to carry the offensive play in the final frame, holding a 16-6 lead in shots. The Corsairs added an insurance marker when Mania finished a feed from junior
Dillon Radin (Long Beach, N.Y.).
Junior Chris Stanarone (White Plains, N.Y.) registered 25 saves to post his first win of the season, while classmate Kyle Martin (Westford, Mass.) suffered the setback in his lone start of the season with a career-high 39 stops.
UMass Dartmouth held a decisive advantage in shots (43-27), including a 31-12 lead after the opening period. The Corsairs also won 39-of-71 face-offs at the dot, but were unable to convert four man-up opportunities.
