MILTON, Mass. – The Curry College men's hockey team defeated UMass.-Dartmouth, 5-1, in non-conference action on Friday night at the Max Ulin Rink in Milton, Mass. With the win the Colonels improve to 1-0 on the season while the loss drops the Corsairs to 0-1. 

Curry capitalized on two of five power-play opportunities along with a short-handed disadvantage to take a 3-0 lead in the first period.  The Colonels got on the board just 1:47 into the frame after freshman Nicholas Short (Las Angeles, Calif.) was called for hooking only 38 seconds into play.  Senior Adam Valadao (Ajax, Ontario) tallied his first of two in the contest when he took a shot from outside the crease past the glove of UMD's senior goaltender Drew Michals (Newton, Mass.).  Valadao was assisted by senior Shane Tracy (Bow, N.H.) and junior Zach White (Milford, Conn.).  Just over two minutes later the Corsairs' junior Noah Anderson (Groveland, N.Y.) was called for roughing leading to Curry's second score. Valadao earned the goal off a helper from classmate Jarret Kup (Rosseau, Ontario).  At the 7:36 minute mark senior Phil Kiss (Burlington, Ontario) was called for cross-checking giving UMD a man-up situation. Strong play however by the Colonels defense and their freshman goaltender Frank Cundiff (Oceanside, N.Y.) held the Corsairs scoreless.  With 36 seconds in to the power-play for UMD, Curry fired their third into the back of the net.  Sophomore Jordan Williamson (Okotoks, AB) received a pass from classmate Anthony Trujillo (Toronto, Ontario) and one-timed it over the shoulder of Michals. The Corsairs held a slight 16-14 advantage in shots.

The Colonels pushed their lead to 4-0 midway through the second for the only score in the period.  Sophomore Joseph DiBenedetto (Anchorage, AK.) took a slap shot just outside the blueline into the top right corner of the net off an assist from freshman Tristan Morin (Unionville, Conn.).  UMD had four power-play opportunities but failed at their scoring attempts leaving them without a goal through 40 minutes of action.  Shots were even at 11 apiece.

The Corsairs netted their lone goal of the game in the third stanza after a 5-on-4 situation at the 7:54 mark.  When the Colonels Williamson was called for high-sticking, UMD was able to control the puck in their offensive zone.  It took just under a minute for the Corsairs to move the puck around before getting on the board and ending the shutout for Cundiff.  Senior Mike Sones (Waterdown, Ontario) tipped the puck past the glove of Cundiff just outside the crease.  Seniors Case Shea (Woburn, Mass.) and Jerry Laakso (Tempera, Finland) earned the assists.  Curry answered back with their final tally of the contest just minutes later on another man-up advantage. Shea was in the box for UMD for a 2-minute slashing call. Just 26 seconds into the power-play junior Lionel Mauron (Lausanne, Switzerland) netted his first goal on the season with the assist credited to classmate Mack Heisinger (Winnipeg, Manitoba). Shots after the third were 11-10 in favor of Curry.

Curry went 3-5 on power plays while UMD was 1-6. The Corsairs had 37 shots while the Colonels had 36.

Cundiff made an impressive 36 saves in net for Curry in his first win as a Colonel. Michals had 31 stops in net for UMD in the loss.

Curry is back in action on October 28 when they travel to UMass.-Boston for a 4:00 p.m. puck drop.