HENNIKER, N.H. - UMass Boston Men's Ice Hockey enjoyed a defensive breakthrough on Saturday afternoon, scoring three goals for the sixth time in six games while holding their opponent to fewer than two for just the second time. They picked up their second win of the season on the road over New England College, 3-1.
THE BASICS
UMass Boston 3, New England College 1
UMass Boston (2-3-1, 2-2-0 NEHC)
New England College (1-3-1, 0-3-0 NEHC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Neither team was hesitant to pull the trigger in the early goings of Saturday's contest. Both goalies faced a barrage of shots, but it wasn't until the 13th minute that a puck finally found its way into the net.
Evan Googins, the team's leading goal-scorer a season ago, punched in his first score of the 2023-24 campaign courtesy of assists from
Conor Foley and
Jude Kurtas.Â
The Beacons took the 1-0 lead into the locker room for the first intermission, but it did not hold for long once they came out. Googins set up teammate
Devin Moran for his own first score of the season just over a minute into the second period. The early score extended the visitors' lead to 2-0.
Boston's skaters did not waste time pushing the lead to three with another insurance goal. With less than seven minutes run off the board in the second, Kurtas dished out another assist to help another teammate, this time
Jack Ford, score his first goal of the season.
The Pilgrims tossed in a late goal to cut the lead to 3-1 in the third, but the Beacons once again dominated time of possession to close out the final frame with a road victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- The Beacons are undefeated (2-0-1) on Saturdays, outsourcing opponents by a combined 14-6
- UMass Boston outshot NEC 38-14 in the victory
- Conor Foley enjoyed a dominant weekend in the faceoff circle, winning 32 of his 46 faceoffs in the two games
- The Beacons are averaging four goals per game while holding opponents to 3.7
- Googins' goal was the second power play goal of the season for UMass Boston
- The Beacons have won five straight matchups with New England College, improving their record in the all-time series to 25-33-2
WHO'S NEXT
The Beacons will return to their home ice on Friday, November 17 when they face the University of Southern Maine for a 7 PM puck drop at Edward T. Barry Ice Rink.
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