Cory Morris (file photo)
Posted: Jan 25, 2024
WESTFIELD, Mass. – UMass Dartmouth sophomore Tyler Stewart (Pittsburgh, Pa.) scored the game-winning goal 8:33 into the third period as the Corsairs defeated Westfield State, 3-2 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference game from Hetland Arena in New Bedford, Mass. on Thursday evening.
The Owls fall to 10-7-1 on the season and 7-6-1 in the conference. The Corsairs improve to 11-7 overall and 9-5 in the MASCAC.
Westfield opened the scoring in the first period after a Corsairs turnover in their defensive end found the stick of Cory Morris (Kahnawake, Quebec) who skated towards the net and ripped a shot low and past the blocker of Marshall McKallip (Pittsburgh, Pa.) for a 1-0 lead.
35 seconds after the Morris tally, UMass Dartmouth tied the game with Collin Patterson (Rockledge, Fla.) burying a centering pass from Kevin Johnston (Mahwah, N.J.) for his tenth goal of the year.
The Corsairs took their first lead of the night midway through the second period on a man-advantage chance after Vincent Nicosia (West Bloomfield, Mich.) netted his third goal of the season.
With three minutes to play in the second frame, Tomas Muller (Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic) blocked a shot in the Owls defensive zone, setting up transition offense for Julian Boisclair (Voorhees, N.J.) who directed a pass to Cooper Board (Salem, Mass.) at center ice who then entered the offensive end and passed the puck back to Boisclair who deposited the equalizer.
The Corsairs regained the lead in the third period, cycling the puck around the boards in the Owls defensive end before Billy McDevitt (Livonia, N.Y.) poked the puck directly in front of the net where Stewart converted the eventual game-winner.
Westfield killed a late penalty, and took a timeout with 15 seconds left in the game, pulling goaltender Valtteri Valtonen (Helsinki, Finland) for one final chance. Gianluca Marini (Lighthouse Point, Fla.) won the offensive zone draw but Emile Pichette's (Saint-Eustache, Quebec) shot was stopped by McKallip to close the game.
Westfield had a slim 26-22 shots advantage with Valtonen (L, 6-4) recording 19 saves. McKallip (W, 4-2) posted 24 saves for the Corsairs. The Owls were held scoreless across three man-advantage opportunities. The Corsairs converted on one of their six power play attempts.
The Owls will host Salem State in their next matchup on Saturday at home in Amelia Park Arena for a 5:35 P.M. puck drop.