FITCHBURG, Mass. – Junior left wing
Vincent Nicosia scored the game-tying goal in the third and UMass Dartmouth went on to tie Fitchburg State, 2-2 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) men's hockey action on Saturday evening. The Falcons are now 9-7-1 overall and 5-4-1 in the conference standings, while the Corsairs are now 8-8-1 and also sit at 5-4-1 in the MASCAC.
After a scoreless opening period of action, the two teams lit the lamp on both ends. The homestanding Falcons got on the board first with Jeremy Maillet converting on the power play. Alexandre Bauvais started the play, passing it up to Matteo Orme Lynch. The puck found its way to Maillet, who banked it past Corsairs goalie
Marshall McKallip at 1:56.
Fitchburg State made it a 2-0 contest at the 15:52 mark as this time, Hunter Dunn sent the puck to Matteo Orme Lynch. This time, Orme Lynch found Elowan Orme Lynch in front as he fired it past McKallip.
The Corsairs didn't go quietly in the frame, converting their first goal at 17:47. Junior right wing and assistant captain
Kevin Johnston sent the puck up from the right point, finding fifth year center and assistant captain
Michael Mania low in the circle. Sending the puck on net, rookie left wing
Blake Kashark was there to bury his first collegiate tally on the left side to cut the deficit.
Third period action saw the Corsairs continued to build on their momentum as three straight shots net finally broke through as a pass from Johnston found Nicosia in front as he tipped it in past Fitchburg goalie Frederick Soderberg for the equalizer.
McKallip was outstanding in the overtime period, earning the draw with seven saves, including four straight in the final minute of the frame. For the game, McKallip finished with 37 saves, including 10 in the first period and 14 in the second period.
UMass Dartmouth returns to the ice on Thursday when it hosts Framingham State at Hetland Arena. The conference match-up gets underway at 7:30pm.
