FITCHBURG, Mass. – Powered by a three-goal second period effort, Fitchburg State University notched a 4-2 win over UMass Dartmouth in MASCAC men's hockey action at the Wallace Civic Center on Saturday. The Falcons move to 3-1-1 and 2-0-1 in conference play, while the Corsairs slip to 2-3-0 and 1-2-0 in the MASCAC.
 
After a scoreless opening period of play, Fitchburg State got on the board at 5:20 of the second period as rookie winger Graham Broadfoot flipped the puck out to the top of the slot from deep in the zone. Senior winger Cole Archambeault was there, firing the shot in low past UMass Dartmouth goalie Daniel Davidson for the 1-0 lead.
 
The Corsairs struck just over two minutes later, tying the contest up on the power play. Carrying the puck into the right circle, captain and defenseman Jake Maynard sent the puck in as it caromed off a Falcons player. The puck came loose to rookie winger Alex Walker, who passed it across the slot as sophomore winger Tyler Stewart roofed it into the top right corner.
 
Senior winger Zach Tarantino made it a 2-1 advantage at 12:17 after he knocked down a bullet shot from the high circle by Maynard, turning and firing five-hole past rookie goalie Frederick Soderberg. Senior winger Billy McDevitt started the play, collecting the puck off the face-off for the quick pass to Maynard.
 
The lead proved to be short lived as the Falcons tied the game just over two minutes later. Swarming at the top of the line, graduate defender Antonie Gignac drove a shot in front of Davidson. Rookie winger Nicklas Millhorn was there, corralling the puck before backhanding it stick side for the equalizer.
 
As the minutes counted down in the period, Fitchburg State grabbed the lead as junior winger Samuel Rennick backhanded a pass from just beyond the goal line. Sophomore center Jeremy Maillet found it deep in the slot and drove it in for the go-ahead tally.
 
In the third period, the Falcons added to their advantage just 2:27 into the frame as a shot in deep by FSU careened off the boards to the left of the net. The puck caromed out to rookie winger Michael Imala who buried it past Davidson. Rennick and Maillet earned the assists on the play.
 
The Corsairs had a solid chance soon after, gaining a 5-on-3 power play advantage, but could not get a shot past Soderberg. UMass Dartmouth had another solid chance as they pulled Davidson in favor of an extra attacker at 15:24 with a 6-on-4. The Corsairs goalie stayed out of the net until the 17:05 mark, but were unable to get one in.
 
UMass Dartmouth was unable to capitalize in the other end to pull Davidson once again, being called for a penalty at 18:22 to force the goalie to stay out for the remainder of the frame.
 
The Corsairs, who led in shots by a 46-31 margin, saw Davidson record 27 saves for the contest. His counterpart, Soderberg, stopped 44 shots in the victory.
 
UMass Dartmouth returns to action on Thursday, traveling to Worcester State for a 5:50pm conference game against the Lancers.