Men’s hockey fell to the UMass Dartmouth Corsairs in a weekend matchup Jan. 23-24, playing two consecutive matches against the familiar opponent resulting in losses of 6-4 and 5-2.
In the first game, the Corsairs scored the first goal, opening the game just 26 seconds in. The first period saw two goals from the opponent in contrast to junior Jack Mortson’s single goal halfway through the period, which concluded with a 2-1 Corsairs advantage.
The team never managed to get the upper hand over their opponent. The second period witnessed the Beacons under pressure to bridge the gap. They did manage to outshoot the Corsairs, but the opponent was determined to maintain their two-point lead.
The scoreboard was at 4-2 after junior Jakub Teply netted a goal, narrowing the Corsairs lead. The opponent retaliated with a goal of their own. Sophomore Michael Lynch netted another for the Beacons, followed by a Corsair goal bringing them to a 6-3 lead over the Beacons.
The third period saw an unassisted Beacon goal as freshman Jack Lindstorm made the last attempts to bridge the score gap. But the team ran out of time, leaving them with a 6-4 loss.
The Jan. 24 game saw a similar opening to the last as the Corsairs struck nine minutes into the game, flaunting their offensive efficiency. This was followed by another goal, giving the opponent a 2-0 lead over the Beacons by the end of the first period.
After a scoreless first period, the team eagerly looked for opportunities in the second period. The opponent, on the other hand, netted another goal extending their lead to a 3-0.
But the Beacons were quick to retaliate, netting two consecutive goals. Senior captain Jazz Kristov opened the scoring for the Beacons, followed by Mortson who scored his eighth goal of the season. The team concluded the second period with a 3-2 deficit.
The third period started with the Beacons outshooting the Corsairs, but failing to sneak a goal past the opponent’s sturdy defense. The Corsairs extended their advantage to 5-2 by the end of the third period, winning their second game of the weekend against the Beacons.
Even though this weekend did not favor the Beacons, players like Mortson and senior Jude Kurtas stood out on the offensive front.
The team’s Codfish Bowl win in early January set the momentum for the Beacons moving forward with the season, but they still have a long way to go before the season concludes. This year they are facing new opponents. The team is visibly very balanced both offensively and defensively.
The Beacons will next play Plymouth State University at home Feb. 6., followed by a Feb. 7 game against New England College.
