NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – First-year
Tyler Stewart scored a pair of goals and added an assist for three points to power the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth to a 4-3 victory over Worcester State University this evening in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference contest at Hetland Arena. The Corsairs raised their overall record to 7-11-2 and 5-7-1 in the MASCAC, while the Lancers evened their record at 9-9-1 and 8-4-1 against conference opponents.
UMass Dartmouth delivered the decisive strike midway through the third period, when senior
Stephon Perreault broke up a Worcester State rush at the blue line and shoveled a breakout pass to Stewart. Stewart entered the Lancers defensive zone along the left flank and allowed first-year
Matthew Zdanowicz to cross in front of him to create a screen. He fired a wrist shot over the Worcester State's netminders' right shoulder to give the hosts a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Stewart scored multiple goals for the first time in his collegiate career and matched his career-high in points to help UMass Dartmouth win for the third time in its past four contests. Senior
Sky Silverstein turned in a balanced attack with a marker and a helper, while classmate
Jake Maynard dished out two assists. First-year
Kevin Johnston registered the equalizer to send the Corsairs into the final intermission tied at 3.
UMass Dartmouth opened the scoring at the 6:12 mark of the first period, when Silverstein netted his eighth goal of the campaign. Worcester State responded with a pair of markers to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission. Senior Brendan Ronan tallied an unassisted goal at 8:58 and junior Jason Lee wristed a shot from the point that found its way through traffic with 22 seconds remaining in the frame.
The Corsairs were able to draw even in the second stanza, when Stewart gathered the puck at center ice and beat a Lancer defender to create a 1v1 opportunity. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native switched to his forehand in close to beat the visitor's keeper at 5:56. Worcester State regained its advantage at 15:13, when senior Kevin Drevitch netted a short-handed goal. Less than a minute later, UMass Dartmouth forged a 3-3 tie when Johnston one-timed a feed from junior
Zach Tarantino.
Senior
Daniel Davidson registered 30 saves to earn the victory, while sophomore Jakub Kubik stopped 27 attempts in a losing effort.
Worcester State held a slight 33-31 advantage in shots. The Corsairs were unable to convert on three power-play opportunities, while the Lancers were 0-for-4 with the man advantage.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 7:40pm on Thursday, February 2, when the Corsairs travel to Framingham State.
