Board Rockets Home Go-Ahead Goal, Owls Rally Past Corsairs 2-1

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Junior forward Cooper Board (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) scored the go-ahead goal 15 seconds into the third period as Westfield State rallied past UMass Dartmouth 2-1 in a MASCAC contest from Hetland Arena in Dartmouth, Mass. on Thursday night.

The Owls have now won five of their last six games and are 4-1 in their last five conference games, advancing to 9-7 overall and 5-4 in league play. The Corsairs now stand at 8-8 on the season and 5-4 in the MASCAC.

After a scoreless first period, Westfield committed two penalties within minutes of each other, setting up a two-man advantage for UMass Dartmouth for one minute. The Owls nearly got back to five-on-four without allowing a goal. Aiden Winslow (Jacksonville, Fla.) made a nice shoulder save for the Owls, then later in the kill, Raphael Seguin (Saint-Lazare, Quebec) dropped to a knee to block another Corsairs scoring chance.

However, with 15 seconds left in the power play, Hunter Scanlon (Rockford, Ill.) tucked a wrister into the back of the net to open the game's scoring.

Westfield was able to capitalize on a power play opportunity of their own later in the second period as the Owls swung the puck along the blue line, eventually finding Seguin on the left faceoff dot who fired a shot towards the net that was tipped in front by Julian Boisclair (Voorhees, N.J.) and into the cage for the equalizer with 7:33 left in the frame.

With the game tied heading into the third period, Board wasted no time putting the Owls in front. Emile Pichette (Saint-Eustache, Quebec) intercepted a pass in the Owls defensive end, quickly sending the pass ahead to Board who transitioned into the offensive zone where he would tee home a short side shot over the glove of Graham Burke (Wilmington, Del.) for a 2-1 lead.

The Owls were able to maintain the lead throughout the remainder of the game, killing off a Corsairs power play midway through the period. Both teams went 1-4 on the man-advantage on the night.

Westfield held a 35-23 shots on goal lead for the game and also ramped up the volume of shots in the third, outshooting UMass Dartmouth 12-6 in the final twenty minutes.

Winslow continued his stellar season for Westfield, collecting 22 saves on 23 shots while Burke made 33 saves for the Corsairs.

The Owls continue conference play on Saturday at 5:35 P.M. as Westfield faces another team towards the top of the MASCAC in Anna Maria from Amelia Park Arena.