BOSTON, MA (January 26, 2024) – The UMass Boston men's hockey team suffered a tight 2-1 loss from Babson Park, MA on Friday evening following the Beavers' second-period winner that iced the Beacons as UMass Boston's suffered its loss since January 13.

Beacons' senior forward Conor Foley was the sole goal scorer for the Beacs on the night, as he connected off assists from sophomore forward Jude Kurtas, and junior forward Evan Googins. Kurtas, along with sophomore forward Jazz Krivstov and senior defenseman Blake Colman each led the way with shots on goal, each contributing a team-high four shots on net. Kurtas along with junior forward Koyle Bankauskas showed out with efficiency from the faceoff circle. Bankauskas won five of the eight drops he circled into, and Kurtas won eight of his 12 faceoffs, good for 75%. First-year goalie Antonio Tarantino stepped up to the challenge, as he faired well in the effort. Tarantino stopped a total of 33 out of the total 35 shots he faced.

The Beavers struck the scoreboard first, as Babson scored off the winning faceoff, with Babson's Thomas Kramer netting the first for the Beavers, as he was assisted by Wyatt George and Nolan Dion. Kurtas would win the following faceoff to try and spur some momentum for the Beacons. The First period saw the Beacons and the Beavers trade shots with every turn of possession. With eight minutes expired in the first period, the Beacons leveled the scoring following Foley's score off Kurtas and Googins' assists. A Beacons power play saw the momentum swing fully toward UMass
Boston. The Beacons forced five saves in the two minutes they possessed a one-man advantage, yet none of which were able to find the back of the net. Tarantino closed out the period with a save as the clock expired in the first period with level scoring at one apiece.

Period two opened with a Beacons' win from the faceoff circle, as Foley continued to lead the way for the UMass Boston. Babson initiated the pressure to start the second period, however Tarantino was solid at the jump. Just before entering the halfway mark, the Beacons suffered a holding penalty that put them a man down in a dangerous situation with the game tied. Babson's Colby Bailey was able to capitalize on the shorthanded Beacons to give the Beavers the 2-1 lead, halfway through the second. Almost immediately following the consolation, the Beacons shoveled a flurry of five total shots on net, with Colman's initial shot missing wide. Colman's shot was followed by efforts from first-year forward Chris Repmann, Foley and Kurtas, with none of the shots finding nylon. The second period concluded with the Beacons in the hole down 2-1.

The Beaver's second on the night would serve as the final and game-winner for Babson, as neither team could break scoring again in the third period. Not to say the Beacons put up an undying effort in the final moments as they finished the final two minutes with an empty net, firing off a plethora of shots in the final moments to no avail.

With the loss tonight, the Beacons fall to 7-11-2 on the season, with a 5-8 record in the New England Hockey Conference. UMass Boston men's hockey is back in action tomorrow as they look to bounce back on the road against the Huskies of the University of Southern Maine from Gorham, ME. Live stats and video coverage can be found at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website
(beaconsathletics.com).