FITCHBURG, Mass. (November 6, 2025) – The UMass Boston men's hockey team (1-0-0) opened its 2025–26 campaign with a complete team effort, defeating Fitchburg State (0-3-0) 3–2 on the road Thursday night. The Beacons controlled play through the first two periods with sustained offensive pressure before the defensive unit locked down in the third to secure the season-opening victory.
Senior forward Dylan Robbins (New York, N.Y.) buried the equalizer for the Beacons' first goal of the 2025–26 campaign after being set up beautifully by senior defender Tyler Drummond (Baldwin, N.Y.) and senior captain Jazz Krivtsov (Santa Clarita, Calif.) on the right side of the crease. The tally knotted the game at 1–1 after UMass Boston had conceded seven minutes into the opening period. Despite the early deficit, the Beacons controlled the pace and outshot the Falcons 15–6, carrying the offensive momentum into the second frame.
Sophomore forwards Michael Lynch (Stoneham, Mass.) and Alex Keller (Bridgeville, Pa.) got things rolling early in the second period, combining on a breakaway to set up sophomore transfer Colin Richard (Foxborough, Mass.) for his first career goal as a Beacon, giving UMass Boston a 2–1 lead. First-year goaltender Alex Koenig (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) preserved the advantage with a highlight-reel double save midway through the frame — two of his nine stops to that point. First-year defender Rhett Kodsi (Boca Raton, Fla.) later added to the lead with a slick wraparound finish, assisted by Richard and Keller, to make it 3–1. Fitchburg State responded before the intermission, capitalizing on a redirect in front of a screened Koenig to cut the deficit to 3–2 heading into the final period.
In a quiet third period on the scoresheet, UMass Boston's defensive unit showcased its resiliency, standing tall in front of Koenig and turning aside all 15 third-period shots to preserve the one-goal lead and secure a season-opening road victory. The Beacons' balanced effort on both ends of the ice was reflected across the stat sheet, highlighting a strong start to their 2025–26 campaign.
UMass Boston outshot Fitchburg State 41–30, though the Falcons held a slight advantage in faceoffs (35–30). Senior defenseman Steven Spetz (Oak Ridge, N.J.) led the team with two of the Beacons' eight total blocked shots, while assistant captain Jude Kurtas (Hillsborough, N.J.), first-year defender Kyle Isenberg (Anaheim, Calif.), and Lynch each added one assist. Krivtsov paced the playmaking effort with two assists, while Koenig also recorded an assist on Kodsi's goal. Robbins, Richard, and Kodsi each tallied once to power the Beacons' offense, with Robbins also winning a team-high 12 of 20 faceoffs. Koenig finished with 28 saves in his first career win under head coach Pete Belisle.
This win marks the first season-opening victory for UMass Boston men's hockey since the 2021–22 campaign, when the Beacons outlasted UMass Dartmouth in a thrilling 4–3 comeback. The result signals a strong and promising start to the 2025–26 season.
UMass Boston men's hockey returns to action Friday (Nov. 7) at 7 p.m. for the second half of a home-and-home series against Fitchburg State at the Edward T. Barry Ice Rink. Admission to all UMass Boston home games is free across all sports.
--LIGHT THE LANTERN--
