CASTLETON, Vt.  – Five different players scored goals and 10 different players recorded assists on Friday night for UMass Boston Men's Ice Hockey as the Beacons steamrolled past Castleton University, 7-2, winning their fourth consecutive game and picking up their crucial third win in New England Hockey Conference play.

THE BASICS

UMass Boston 7, Castleton University 2

UMass Boston (6-8-0, 3-4 NEHC)

Castleton University (4-10-0, 2-5 NEHC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Sophomore forward Devin Moran got the scoring started for the Beacons in a five-goal second period for UMass Boston, four of which were scored over the course of 5:37 in the frame. Moran's goal was the first of the season and came just 2:16 into the period from senior defender Nick Daluisio and junior forward Evan Googins.

Scoring just over a minute apart, an unassisted goal from freshman forward and last week's NEHC Co-Rookie of the Week Mike Manzo followed by junior forward Jacob Banks' goal from sophomore defender Pat Keegan extended UMass Boston's lead to three. Capping off the four-goal stretch, Googins netted his first of two goals in the period, from Moran and junior defender Blake Colman before scoring on the power play later on in the period which was assisted by sophomore forward Alex Duncan.

Mixed into the five-goal second was a pair of power play goals from sophomore forward Jackson Kobelka and senior forward Brandon Picard that briefly cut the UMass Boston lead in half, before the second Googins goal gave the Beacons a 5-2 lead heading into the third period.

Senior defender Ryan Bogan recorded his first goal of the season in the final period while junior forward Corey Clifton scored for the third consecutive game with 10 seconds remaining, both shorthanded goals, as UMass Boston came away with a dominant 7-2 victory on the road against the Spartans.

BY THE NUMBERS

• After having just one goal through his first 10 games, Evan Googins has recorded four goals and six points in his last three games played
• Corey Clifton has now scored a goal in third consecutive games after scoring once in his first eight games played
• UMass Boston has scored three-plus goals in four straight games and four-plus goals in three straight games after being shutout in three consecutive games during the month of November
• Senior goalie Same Best got the win, moving above .500 for the first time this season, making 36 saves on 38 shot attempts by the Spartans

 
WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston travels to face Skidmore College tomorrow afternoon with puck drop scheduled for 4:00 PM in Saratoga Springs, New York. Last season the two teams met in the New England Hockey Conference Quarterfinals at the Edward T. Barry Ice Rink where the Thoroughbreds took a 5-3 victory.