BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Nolan Redler (Winchester, Mass.) had a hat trick and added an assist to help the University of Massachusetts Boston ice hockey team defeat Wentworth Institute of Technology, 9-2, in the season opener for both teams.
The first 12:36 of the contest saw the teams combine for seven goals as the Beacons took a 5-2 lead. Redler opened the scoring just 1:06 into the contest with a power-play goal set up by senior Colin Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) and freshman Nick Albano (Beverly, Mass.). The lead would be short-lived, however, as sophomore Garrett Geane (Fullerton, Calif.) scored 48 seconds later to tie the game at 1-all off assists from junior Jonny Spada (Glen Rock, N.J.) and freshman Brenden Lloyd (Merrick, N.Y.).
UMass Boston scored twice in a span of 13 seconds to take the lead for good as sophomore Cody Wickline (Flower Mound, Texas) and Larkin scored at 3:25 and 3:38, respectively. Sophomore Connor Busch (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) notched his first collegiate goal to bring the Black & Gold to within one at the 6:29 mark, which was set up by classmate Connor Beaudet (Buffalo, N.Y.) and junior Tim Shea, Jr. (Ferrisburgh, Vt.).
Sophomores Zach Bross (St. Louis, Mo.) and Dante Suffredini (Detroit, Mich.) increased the Beacons' lead to 5-2 with goals just over three minutes apart.
The hosts tacked on a pair of goals in the second period, coming from Redler and Albano, to up their lead to 7-2 and added goals from Redler and freshman Jack Riley (Wrentham, Mass.) in the third period to complete the scoring.
Albano and Larkin finished with a goal and three assists each for UMass Boston, which got 25 saves from junior Anthony D'Urso (Rome, N.Y.).
Sophomore Kenny Graham (Milton, Mass.) made 12 saves in 12:36 for Wentworth. Senior Ryan Hubbard (West Roxbury, Mass.) played the final 47:24, making 32 stops. The Beacons had a 53-27 shot advantage.
Wentworth hosts Castleton on Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
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