NASHUA, N.H. – Backed by a three-goal second period, Rivier University defeated UMass Dartmouth, 4-1 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Thursday evening in Conway Arena. The Raiders move to 7-15-2 overall and 3-12-2 in conference, while the Corsairs are now 10-13-1 with a 7-9-1 MASCAC record.
The opening period of play fell in favor of the homestanding Raiders, who got on the board at 10:15 of the frame. Powering into the Corsairs zone, Rivier saw senior right wing Bryan Van Ness corral the puck behind the UMD net. Chipping it up, the puck went off the stick of sophomore left wing Shawn Golden as it caromed loose. Senior center Ashton Jones was positioned in the mid-slot, finding the loose puck with a quick shot past junior goalie
Graham Burke for the advantage.
The visiting Corsairs worked to get on the board but were unable to solve LJ Newell as the netminder held off a number of solid shots, including a point-blank shot by rookie left wing
Blake Kashark at the right doorstep in the final minute of play.
UMass Dartmouth opened the second period of play with a flurry of activity, but it was the Raiders who capitalized with two goals in less than three minutes to open a 4-0 lead.
Rivier took the 2-0 advantage at 10:02 as a shot by graduate student center Cody Rumsey from the top of the right circle, deflected off a stick in front as graduate left winger Cormac Hayes one-timed it off Burke and into the net for the 2-0 advantage. Senior center Nicolas Paolucci credited with the secondary assist after sending the puck over to Rumsey from the left point.
The Raiders made it a three-goal lead at 10:58, seeing a 3-on-2 advantage go in their favor as junior right winger Alfred Rotiroti ripped a shot from the right circle. The puck caromed off the pad of Burke, banking out to senior left wing Ryan Nolte who fired it in past the Corsairs netminder at 10:58.
It was a solid individual effort by Damon Kiyawasew that powered Rivier to the 4-0 lead as the sophomore left wing fought behind the net for the puck. Chipping it out to the mid-slot, graduate student defender Tyler Duderstadt fired it on goal as Kiyawasew banked in the rebound at the left post.
The Corsairs had a flurry of activity in the final minute of play, gaining the power play on a five-minute major to the Raiders. Despite five straight shots, including ones from sophomore center
Connor Little and junior defenseman and assistant captain
Lane Ruffner that were stopped by Newell, the Corsairs could not break through.
Into the third period of action, the Corsairs continued to press with junior left wing
Tyler Stewart nearly getting the visitors on the board as he fired back-to-back shots at 8:44 that Newell once again seized to keep it locked at 4-0 in the Raiders favor.
UMass Dartmouth finally lit the lamp at 18:54 as rookie defender
Tommy Madden passed the puck up to Stewart, who was on the move through the neutral zone. Into the Raiders zone. The junior passed the puck to linemate
Alex Walker, who fed it right back to Stewart for the roofed shot into the right corner of the net.
For the Raiders, Newell earned the victory, recording 37 saves on the night, while Burke shouldered the loss with 27 stops in the Corsairs end.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action on Saturday when it closes out the regular season at Westfield State. Puck drop is set for 5:35pm.
