SALEM, Mass. – Powered by a hat trick from senior
Tyler Stewart, the UMass Dartmouth men's hockey team bested Salem State University, 6-1 on Thursday at Rockett Arena. The Corsairs move to 5-5-0 on the season, while the Vikings slip to 2-6-1 overall.
The Vikings opened the game's scoring at 4:50 of the first as sophomore defender Declan Loughnane drove home a loose puck off a blocked shot off the stick of senior forward Ryan Barrett.
The Corsairs made it a 1-1 game as junior center and assistant captain
Nolan Wutzke passed it in from the left circle off a nice feed from senior captain and defender
Lane Ruffner. The puck sailed toward net, ricocheting off the stick of rookie winger
Chris Cardillo. Senior left-wing
Vincent Nicosia was there for the rebound, burying it into the open right side for the equalizer on the power play opportunity.
UMass Dartmouth made it a 2-1 contest late in the frame as Cardillo stole the puck off a Vikings stick in the defensive zone. He sent it up to rookie center
Kailin Chen in the neutral zone, who then made a quick pass over to senior winger and assistant captain
Tyler Stewart. Battling past a defender while dragging the puck, Stewart beat goalie Will Nepveau for the 2-1 lead.
In the second period of action, the Corsairs added to their lead as Chen passed the puck up to Stewart in the left circle. His shot went on net and rebounded out to Cardillo, who buried it for the 3-1 lead early in the frame.
The Corsairs opened a 4-1 advantage later in the stanza as Stewart nabbed the puck off an errant pass by the Vikings. He tipped it up to sophomore defender
Noah Webster as they crossed into the Salem State zone. Webster quickly sent it through the slot from the right circle as Stewart was there to bury it.
Into the final period of play, the Corsairs saw senior goalie
Graham Burke make a number of outstanding saves early, including one on his stomach as he leaped up and made a standing save within seconds to keep the Vikings at bay.
UMD netted their fifth goal soon after as Stewart completed the hat trick – his first since Feb. 17, 2024. Chen carried the puck into the zone, dropping it back in the right circle to senior winger and assistant captain
Brandon Clark, who fired it in on net. His rebound was found by Stewart, who banked it in on the left side.
The Corsairs added their final goal of the night with 4:39 remaining as junior winger
Alex Walker fired in a shot at the right post with the rebound going out to Stewart. Collecting the puck, Stewart made a move, but lost the puck as it caromed out to the slot and sophomore defender
Hunter Scanlon. Making a great move, Scanlon spun and fired a wrist-shot into the goal on a delayed penalty call.
Stewart led the way for the Corsairs, recording three goals with two assists for five points – tying the most points in a game for his career (2g – 3a – 5pts vs. Framingham State on 1/30/25). Additionally, Stewart's five-point night marked his 100th career point as well. Cardillo finished with a goal and two assists, while Chen added three assists on the night – marking career single-game high's in points for both players.
Burke had an outstanding night, earning his first win over the season, while allowing just one goal. He recorded 38 saves in the victory, including 15 in the opening period, 16 in the second and seven in the third.
The Corsairs conclude the 2025 portion of their schedule on Tuesday, December 9 when they welcome another former conference-rival – Worcester State – to Hetland Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:30pm.
