Club Hockey Picks Up Victory in 2012 Home Opener

HAMILTON, Mass. – The Endicott men's club ice hockey team opened up their home season on Saturday night of homecoming weekend and took care of business, defeating UMass Lowell by a score of 8-4.

The Gulls are coming off a 12-8-1 season a year ago that saw them clinch a spot in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA)'s Regional Tournament.

Endicott took a 2-0 lead after one period against the Riverhawks, as Kevin Butler (Natick, Mass.) and Chris Murphy (Holden, Mass.) each scored a goal and assisted on each other's in the opening twenty minutes.

UMass Lowell fought back and tied the game at two, but goals by Tad Gold (Vineyard Haven) and Ryan Pratt (Waltham) restored the two-goal advantage for Endicott. Murphy, who had a goal and four assists in the contest picked up two more of those helpers in the second period, which ended with the Gulls ahead 4-3.

Gold opened the scoring in the third period with his second goal of the night, with another assist coming from Murphy.

Junior Chris Lane (Holden, Mass.) got involved in the third period, assisting on a goal by Clark Dumart (Shrewsbury, Mass.) which put Endicott up 6-3. Lane would score the final goal of the night, with Dumart returning the favor on the assist with five minutes to play.

Adam Rayho (Succasunna, N.J.) recorded two assists for Endicott, while freshman Zach Pettingill (Scarborough, Maine) also lit the lamp in the final period.

Junior Blaine Thibodeau (Peabody, Mass.) minded the net for Endicott, making 14 saves to record the victory.

After falling at University of Connecticut in their opening game Friday night, the Gulls have now evened their record at 1-1 for the season.

They will host Bryant on Saturday night at 7:30 and then travel to University of New Hampshire the next day for a 4:00 PM game.