Box Score
NEW BEDFORD - Junior forward Todd Bartelson (Pepperell, MA/Valley Jr. Warriors) scored the tying goal with 1:36 remaining to lift the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's hockey team into a 2-2 overtime tie with visiting Westfield State in a Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference game at the Stephan Hetland Memorial Ice Arena Thursday evening.
Bartelson converted a pass from senior center Matt Serino (Saugus, MA/Avon Old Farms) to even the score at 18:24 of the third period. Westfield State had taken a 2-1 lead when freshman forward Jason Nelson (Raleigh, NC/Springfield Jr. Falcons) scored at 8:55 of the third period.
Junior forward Steve Plancey (Point Pleasant, NJ/Oswego Admirals) put the Owls on top when he scored on a wrist shot from the face-off circle at 2:25 of the first period. Freshman defenseman Jeff Callahan (Londonderry, NH/Valley Jr. Warriors) and senior forward Mike Muolo (Stoneham, MA/Stoneham HS) drew the assists.
Sophomore forward Giancarlo Capodanno (Mountainside, NJ/N.J. Rockets) tied the score for the Corsairs with a power play goal at 2:02 of the third period. Junior forward Jason Stahl (Londonderry, NH/Valley Jr. Warriors) assisted on the play.
“On the one hand, it feels like we averted disaster, on the other hand, it feels like half a win,” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach John Rolli. “This is going to be a great league. It was an up and down battle. I have to give our team credit for coming from behind twice. We had to play very hard.”
UMass Dartmouth out shot Westfield, 42-22. Senior goaltender Jon Dryjowicz-Burek (Ludlow, MA/Springfield Jr. Falcons) made 20 saves for the Corsairs, while sophomore Ian Wilson (Tulsa, OK/ North Bay Skyhawks) stopped 40 shots, many of them difficult saves from close range, for the Owls.
UMD is now 2-1-1 and 0-1-1 in the MASCAC; the Corsairs dropped their conference opener to Salem, 3-2. UMass Dartmouth will return to action when they visit Plymouth State Saturday evening.
The Owls are idle until Dec. 3 when they play at Fitchburg State, which won 5-4 in overtime at Framingham on Thursday. The Owls' next home game in a big one as they host Salem State on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 5:35.