Men's Hockey Rolls Over UMass-Dartmouth
Jeff Kassouf
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Sports
Saturday's men's hockey match-up between Utica College and the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth was touted to be a clash between two ECAC powers. The result was an emphatic one.
Utica College crushed the host Corsairs by a score of 6-1, improving its case for a national ranking. All six goals were scored by a different player for the Pioneers, who scored three goals in each of the first two periods.
"That was a quality win and a must win for out of conference," said Coach Gary Heenan. "For us to beat them will really help down the road."
Senior captain Bryce Dale opened the scoring just under 14 minutes into the game, with Josh Merson and Aaron Jeffery adding to the lead in the first period. Freshman Tim Coffman then added to the lead late in the second period, which was soon followed by two power play goals in under a minute by Jake Coyle and Nick Kulas, respectively.
UMass-Dartmouth is the three-time defending ECAC Northeast Tournament champion, making the win that much sweeter for the Pioneers, who have conference championship aspirations of their own.
The win is the fourth straight for Utica, which improves to 4-1-1 on the season, while UMass-Dartmouth drops to 2-1 overall.
A key weekend now awaits Utica College with two home games; the first home game of the weekend will be against Neumann College on Friday night and the second home game of the weekend will be against Lebanon Valley College on Saturday evening.
The Neumann game marks the return of Coach Dominick Dawes. Dawes had a brief stint with Utica as an assistant earlier in the season, which only adds to what Heenan says is already a heated rivalry.
"If there is a hate relationship in the league, it is Neumann-Utica," he said.
Saturday then marks the Pioneers' third matchup of the season against Lebanon Valley. Heenan said that the game will be tougher than the first two - both wins for Utica - because the Dutchmen now know some of Utica's game-plan. There is also the challenge presented by the second game of a back-to-back weekend.
"Traditionally we have been flat on Saturdays," said Heenan. "We put everything into Fridays."
Fans are encouraged to get to the games early, with promotional giveaways taking place all weekend. The first 1,200 fans on Friday night will receive thundersticks, and the first 600 fans on Saturday will receive cow bells. A record crowd is expected Friday night.
Utica College crushed the host Corsairs by a score of 6-1, improving its case for a national ranking. All six goals were scored by a different player for the Pioneers, who scored three goals in each of the first two periods.
"That was a quality win and a must win for out of conference," said Coach Gary Heenan. "For us to beat them will really help down the road."
Senior captain Bryce Dale opened the scoring just under 14 minutes into the game, with Josh Merson and Aaron Jeffery adding to the lead in the first period. Freshman Tim Coffman then added to the lead late in the second period, which was soon followed by two power play goals in under a minute by Jake Coyle and Nick Kulas, respectively.
UMass-Dartmouth is the three-time defending ECAC Northeast Tournament champion, making the win that much sweeter for the Pioneers, who have conference championship aspirations of their own.
The win is the fourth straight for Utica, which improves to 4-1-1 on the season, while UMass-Dartmouth drops to 2-1 overall.
A key weekend now awaits Utica College with two home games; the first home game of the weekend will be against Neumann College on Friday night and the second home game of the weekend will be against Lebanon Valley College on Saturday evening.
The Neumann game marks the return of Coach Dominick Dawes. Dawes had a brief stint with Utica as an assistant earlier in the season, which only adds to what Heenan says is already a heated rivalry.
"If there is a hate relationship in the league, it is Neumann-Utica," he said.
Saturday then marks the Pioneers' third matchup of the season against Lebanon Valley. Heenan said that the game will be tougher than the first two - both wins for Utica - because the Dutchmen now know some of Utica's game-plan. There is also the challenge presented by the second game of a back-to-back weekend.
"Traditionally we have been flat on Saturdays," said Heenan. "We put everything into Fridays."
Fans are encouraged to get to the games early, with promotional giveaways taking place all weekend. The first 1,200 fans on Friday night will receive thundersticks, and the first 600 fans on Saturday will receive cow bells. A record crowd is expected Friday night.
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