Westfield State vs UMass Dartmouth Preview

WESTFIELD Mass.- Westfield State University (7-6-2) will host UMass Dartmouth (7-6-1) on Thursday, January 27 at 7:35pm at Amelia Ice Arena in Westfield MA. Westfield will look to get a win on their home ice after a short three game road stint.

The last time these two teams met the contest ended in a 3-3 draw, however the Owls held the lead until the final two and a half minutes of the game. Senior forward Jake Ratcliffe (Auckland, New Zealand) led the Owls in points during that contest, with a goal and an assist.

What to Watch For: Westfield State winger Jason Diamond (Lakeville, Conn.) has been lighting up the stat sheet, notching six points in his last five contests on two goals and four assists. Look for him to be active around the net and get lots of touches in the offensive zone. Senior forward Paul Frys (Portland, Ore.) will be another deciding factor in this game, seeking to add to his team leading eight goals on the year.

The Owls are outscoring their opponents 27-21 at home this season, and are looking to extend their two-game home win streak. Defensively, sophomore goalie Valtteri Valtonen (Helsinki, Finaland) has been lights out between the pipes, with a 92% save percentage.

The Corsairs will be coming in on fresh legs, having only played two games between January 8th and 25th, due to a postponement and a cancellation. Grad student Dillion Radin has been a weapon for the Corsairs on offense this season, being their only player in double-digit goals on the season (10). He also leads the MASCAC in points and assists. Goaltender Parker Butler is coming off a solid start, allowing three goals on thirty-five shots in the Corsairs 3-2 overtime loss to Plymouth State this past Tuesday.

Currently sitting at 2-4-2 and 6th in the MASCAC, Westfield is looking to inch their way up to the standings with a win in this conference battle. The Corsairs are currently 4-3-1 in conference play (3rd).