BURRISVILLE, R.I. – Powered by an offensive onslaught, including the game-winning goal from grad winger
Michael Perrone, the UMass Dartmouth hockey team posted a 5-3 victory over Nichols College in non-conference action at Levy Rink. The Corsairs improve to 5-6-0, while the Bison are now 3-6-2 overall.
The Corsairs opened the game's scoring at 8:27 of the first period as sophomore winger
Vincent Nicosia found a hole past Bison goalie Mathias Backstrom. Rookie defender
Ethan Finlason got the play started, corralling the puck at the high point. The puck tipped forward to classmate and center
Connor Little as he sent it up to Nicosia for the lead.
UMass Dartmouth made it a 2-0 score less than four minutes later as Little dug the puck out of the boards, firing a shot across to Nicosia in the far circle. His pass to the near side found sophomore winger Kevin Johston as he banked it in for the goal.
Nichols responded seconds later as senior defender Jack Goodman fed the puck up to rookie winger Ryan O'Donnell as he fired a shot past Corsairs netminder
Daniel Davidson to cut the deficit.
It was the Corsairs who answered next, making it a 3-1 score at 15:48. Johnston picked it up down low, snapping a shot to sophomore winger
Tyler Stewart near the left post. He caught a speeding
Michael Mania, who wheeled around the backside of the goal, firing it past Backstrom.
The Bison once again responded as senior blueliner Philip Bjorkman sent it up to center Quinn McCarthy, making it a 3-2 game at 16:53.
Heading into the second period of play, the Bison were unable to capitalize on the closing seconds of a Mania penalty that had carried over, but went on to take advantage even-strength as rookie left winger CJ Zezima stole the puck off a miscue, firing it past Davidson to tie it at 3-all early in the middle stanza.
The Corsairs broke the draw at the 11:07 mark as senior captain
Jake Maynard sent a pass up to rookie center
Collin Patterson from the neutral zone. Skating in with a 2-on-1, Patterson sent a cross ice pass through the slot to Perrone as his shot clanged off the crossbar on its way in for the go-ahead goal.
Davidson proved outstanding between the pipes for the remainder of the frame, including a critical stop late on a breakaway attempt, finishing with 12 saves in the period.
Third period action saw both teams come out firing, each team getting solid opportunities to put one in, but Davidson and Backstrom both held solid until the 12:44 mark as Perrone put the Corsairs up by a two-goal margin. At the far boards, Patterson dug the puck out, making a quick pass out to a speeding
Billy McDevitt. The senior winger carried it through the circle, passing it across to Perrone who roofed it in for the 5-3 lead.
Nichols pulled their goalie in the closing seconds of the contest, but the Corsairs held on for the victory.
UMass Dartmouth was led by two goals from Perrone, who added eight shots, including seven on goal. Patterson and Little each had two assists, while Nicosia and Johnston added a goal and an assist each. In goal, Davidson finished with 32 saves, including 12 stops in the third period.
The Bison saw Backstrom finish with 31 saves to shoulder the loss, as three different scorers posted goals.
UMass Dartmouth is now idle for the holiday break, but returns to action on January 4 when it travels to MASCAC-rival Framingham State for a 7:40pm puck drop.
