BOSTON - The UMass Boston hockey team earned a weekend sweep of NESCAC opponents with a 7-2 victory at home against Tufts on Saturday afternoon. The Beacons had earned a 4-1 win over Connecticut College on Friday night.
UMass Boston led Tufts 3-0 early in the third period after Travis Daniel scored his seventh goal of the season at 1:34. Barely 90 seconds later, the Jumbos pulled within 3-1 when outstanding freshman Kyle Gallegos (Westminster, CO) scored his eighth goal of the year. However, the Beacons scored the next two goals to lead 5-1 and finished the third period with five goals overall to take the victory.
Tufts freshman goalie Brian Phillips (Colleyville, TX) made the first start of his collegiate career and was solid in the first period stopping 16 of 17 UMass Boston shots. The Jumbos managed just four shots and fell behind 1-0 when Bryan Albert scored for the hosts at 9:48 of the first period.
After killing two power plays early in the second, UMass Boston went up 2-0 on Eric Tulman's goal at 10:58. Shots were 13-10 Beacons in the second and they entered the third with a 2-0 margin.
After Tufts had made it a two-goal game in the third, the first goals of the season by Tim Richter and Mike DeGrazia put UMB up 5-1 with 9:11 remaining. Senior co-captain Dylan Cooper (Colorado Springs, CO) netted a goal for the Jumbos with 8:56 on the clock, with assists to Tom Derosa (Charlestown, MA) and Gallegos (8-3-11 in 10 games). Beacon Chris Wyman scored the final two goals to give UMass Boston the 7-2 final.
Kevin Bendel improved to 5-1 in the Beacon goal with the win, including 25 saves. UMass Boston had six multi-point scorers, led by Wyman (2-1-3) UMass Boston finished with a 40-27 shots advantage. Phillips made 33 saves for the Jumbos.
Tufts (4-5-1, 3-4 NESCAC) hosts NESCAC opponents Hamilton and Amherst at Valley Forum II next weekend (Jan. 14-15). UMass Boston (9-3, 5-2 ECAC East) travels to games at Castleton and Skidmore next weekend.
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