WESTFIELD, Mass. – Powered by late goals in the third period and the overtime session, Westfield State University defeated UMass Dartmouth, 3-2 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Saturday evening at Amelia Park Ice Arena. The Owls move to 5-3-1 and 3-2-1 in conference play, while the Corsairs are now 4-5-0 and 3-4-0 in the MASCAC.
It was the Corsairs with the opening score, taking the 1-0 advantage on the power play at 8:23 of the first period. Left winger
Michael Perrone got the play started, collecting the puck at the top of the left circle. He sent it through the slot to a speeding
Collin Patterson on the right side. His move drew Owls goalie Valtteri Valtonen to the right, leaving the net wide open as Patterson fed it to the doorstep as right winger
Kevin Johnston buried it for the goal.
The Corsairs had several solid chances opening the second period of play, but it was the Owls that stuck early, garnering a power play tally of their own. With the Corsairs a man-down, Westfield State saw rookie forward Emile Pichette collect a pass from sophomore defender Daniel Finegan, taking a shot from the right circle. UMassD goalie
Daniel Davidson made the stop, but the puck caromed loose out front as sophomore forward Cooper Board was there to fire it in for the equalizer at 2:50.
Johnston nearly got the Corsairs a go-ahead tally sooner after, coming loose on a breakaway as he rifled it in on Valtonen, who made the outstanding glove save. UMass Dartmouth continued to attack Valtonen in the Owls' net as Westfield State countered on the other end, forcing Davidson to make a number of outstanding saves to keep the game knotted at 1-all heading into the final period of play.
The Corsairs earned a 5-on-3 advantage at 15:23 of the third and were able to capitalize. Sophomore winger
Tyler Stewart, positioned low in the left circle, sent a quick pass to Perrone at the top of the circle. Looking left, Perrone fed it through the slot to captain
Jake Maynard, who one-timed it over the left shoulder of Valtonen for the go-ahead goal.
Outstanding save by Davidson at 9:49 of the frame as Board made his way into the zone, battling with a Corsairs defender. Breaking free, Board fired in a shot that Davidson was able to kick away low to maintain the UMass Dartmouth lead.
The Corsairs got the benefit of a five-minute power play with 8:31 to play, but despite shots from rookie defender
Nolan Wutzke and senior center
Michael Mania, UMass Dartmouth was unable to capitalize on the 5-on-4 opportunity.
With under two to play, the Owls tied things up on a frenzied play in front. With the teams fighting along the boards for possession, the puck came loose out to Finegan at the top of the right circle. Sending a hard shot in, the puck caromed off the post, banking off the skate of Davidson as sophomore forward Nicolas Coppola was there to bury it home for the equalizer at 18:18.
In the overtime session, Maynard nearly handed the Corsairs the victory, sending a hard shot in on Valtonen that was stopped. The Owls countered at the other end, as sophomore defender Thomas Reilly forced Davidson to make a kick-save to keep it tied at the 2:22 mark.
Late in the frame, senior forward Gianluca Marini played the hero for the Owls, collecting a pass from classmate and defender Dawson Garcia as he skated into the Corsairs zone and through the circle. Looking to pass, he continued through the mid-slot, firing a shot that sailed past Davidson for the game-winner.
UMass Dartmouth owned a 45-33 advantage in shots for the contest, while the Owls had a 34-29 advantage on the faceoff. Westfield State was led by goals from Board, Coppola and Marini, while Finegan had two assists. In goal, Valtonen posted 43 saves in the victory.
For the Corsairs, Johnston and Maynard scored, while Perrone had two helpers. In goal, Davidson shouldered the loss, recording 30 saves.
The Corsairs return to action on Tuesday, hosting Anna Maria in non-conference action at Hetland Arena. Puck-drop is set for 7:30pm.
