KEENE, N.H. – Sophomore center
Collin Patterson netted his first hat trick of 2024 and the UMass Dartmouth men's hockey team defeated Keene State College, 6-4 in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon. The Corsairs improve to 2-1-0 overall, while the Owls are now 2-3-1 on the young season.
The Owls opened up the game's scoring, taking advantage on the power play as Peter Unger drove one in off assists from Kyle Gonzalez and Sean McBride. Patterson answered for UMass Dartmouth nearing the end of the frame, banking in a feed from sophomore winger
Nolan Wutzke on the power play.
UMass Dartmouth pulled ahead to open the second period as junior winger
Tyler Stewart slammed home a feed from rookie defenseman
Brennen Pecararo at the 6:20 mark, but once again the Owls responded as Marcus Chrisafideis found an opening past rookie goalie
Ethan Labbe for the 2-2 score on the power play. Late in the stanza, Stewart answered one more for the Corsairs, this time banking home a pass from fifth year center
Michael Mania to send UMassD into the break up 3-2.
Third period action opened with a quick tally just 20 seconds in as Keene State saw Chrisafideis bury the equalizer for a 3-all margin. Patterson responded on the power play less than a minute later, converting on assists from junior defender
Lane Ruffner and Wutzke to go ahead 4-3. Wutzke added a tally of his own four minutes later as the Corsairs once again took advantage on the power play.
Down 5-3, the Owls saw Chase Carney drive home a Luke Festa pass, but Patterson answered at 12:27, netting his third power play goal of the night for the 6-4 final score.
In addition to Patterson, who also added an assist with his hat trick, while going 8-19 on the faceoff, the Corsairs saw Wutzke finish with a goal and three helpers. Ruffner added three assists as Stewart finished with two goals. Mania went 15-24 on the faceoff.
For the game, the Corsairs owned a 39-33 advantage in shots, going 40-84 from the faceoff circle. In goal, Labbe posted his first collegiate victory, recording 29 saves on the night, including 10 in both the first and second periods. For Keene State, Ben Skelton made 33 saves, including 12 in the first and 11 in the third period.
The Corsairs return to their home ice in Hetland Arena on Thursday, opening their MASCAC schedule against Fitchburg State at 7:30pm. That game will be a rematch of last season's MASCAC Semifinals – which the Falcons won 2-1 in overtime.
