NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – Powered by a three-goal third period, New England College defeated UMass Dartmouth in Little East Conference action on Friday evening. The Pilgrims move to 7-14-0 and 6-8-0 in conference play, while the Corsairs are now 10-10-0 and 5-8-0 in the LEC.
After a scoreless opening period of play, the visitors opened the scoring with back-to-back goals from sophomore right wing Egor Osipik. Despite going on the penalty kill at 12:53, New England College turned it to their own advantage as Osipik connected on a feed from rookie defender Jack Brennan at 13:59 for the shorthanded marker.
Osipik then converted a pass from linemate and junior center Gunnar Sibley for the 2-0 margin at 16:00 that carried into the final period of play.
The Corsairs came out firing to open the frame as rookie center
Kailin Chen converted in front off a feed from the left by senior assistant captain and winger
Tyler Stewart. Sophomore defender
Hunter Scanlon earned the secondary assist on the goal.
UMass Dartmouth pulled the game even at 4:24 as a shot by Chen from the low right circle was punched in at the goal mouth by junior winger
Alex Walker for the 2-2 equalizer.
Despite the momentum, the Corsairs could not hold off the Pilgrims, who netted two goals in less than three minutes – both off the stick of rookie winger Wyatt Gibson, before Osipik sealed the hat trick at 19:01 with an empty net tally on the power play.
For the game, the Corsairs blocked 18 shots, including a game-best three from rookie defender
Alex Pagliari. Chen owned an 18-24 margin in the face-off circle, while in goal, senior
Graham Burke made 40 saves.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action on Saturday, welcoming Plymouth State University to Hetland Arena at 3:40pm.
