The PAL/Stovepipe Cup didn't end as well as it started for the ice hockey team (1-3), as the squad fell 4-3 in devastating fashion in the waning seconds of yesterday's contest against the UMass Boston Beacons in Manchester, N.H.
Leading 3-1 with less than eight minutes remaining in the third period, the Jumbos lost their grip on the tournament title, with the Beacons completing a late rally that was capped by two goals from junior Kris Kranzky in the game's final three minutes. Kranzky put the puck past Tufts freshman keeper Scott Barchard with two seconds left to put UMass Boston ahead for good and finish the improbable comeback victory.
Freshman Tom Derosa led the Jumbos in their losing effort with a goal and an assist on the afternoon, and sophomore Zach Diaco tallied the team's lone power play goal of the game.
Derosa and freshman Nick Resor put the Jumbos up 2-0 midway through the second period before the Beacons' Vinnie Jacona beat Barchard to move the score to 2-1. Following Diaco's man-up tally, Barchard had a tough finish to the game, nabbing only five of his 22 saves and allowing three goals in the final frame.
In Saturday's first-round matchup against Plymouth State, the Jumbos put together a statement game in order to earn their first win on the young season, 5-1. Tufts rode a dominant power play unit that converted four goals on nine-man advantage opportunities. The squad also benefitted from outshooting the Panthers 44 to 18.
Freshman forward Evan Story notched his first tally of the season to put the Jumbos on top halfway through the first period. The teams went into the locker room tied for the first intermission, however, as Panthers junior forward Chris Chambers beat Barchard with a few minutes remaining in the opening frame.
It was all Tufts for the rest of the game following Derosa's power play tally early in the second to put the Jumbos up 2-1, igniting the winning effort which was led by Derosa's and sophomore Lindsay Walker's two point -- one goal and one assist each -- performances.
Barchard responded nicely in the cage with 17 saves on 18 shots after putting together two rough showings against solid NESCAC competition the previous weekend.
See tomorrow's Daily for full coverage.
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