Despite a couple of bitter defeats over the weekend, the UMass Boston men’s Ice Hockey team (2-14-1, 0-12-1) admirably bounced back from a 0-8 loss a week ago.

On Saturday, January 29 freshman Rick Tennyson scored a two-men-advantaged goal in the third period in a 1-2 loss to Middlebury College (13-3-2, 9-3-1), the current leader of the competitive New England Small College Athletic Conference. A press release reported that both teams had a chance to score in the final five minutes of the match. The Beacons, however, couldn’t offset the two goals they allowed in the first and third frames.

It is Beacons goaltender James Johnson who should be credited for recovering from giving up eight goals last week to go on and set the stage for the tight competition against a decorated opponent. The freshman made 40 saves out of 42 shots sent to the crease, barely missing his first collegiate victory. Panthers’ goalie Yen-I Chen blocked 10 shots.

On Friday, January 28 the Beacons lost again, 1-2, to Williams College in Williamstown, MA. Freshman goalie Sean Bertoni made a career-high 50 saves for the Beacons who countered with 38 shots sent to the Ephs.

UMB took a lead at 11:23 in the first period when junior Julian Giantonio sank his fourth goal of the season. The Ephs wasted no time to tie the score two minutes later with a five-on-five goal. With twelve minutes left in the final period, Jim Canner netted a game-winning goal for the home team’s fourth victory in five matches.

The Beacons, losing six straight, will be in action on Friday, February 4, and Saturday, February 5, when they host Tufts University and Connecticut College at the Clark Athletic Center.