NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth flipped a 2-0 deficit into a one-goal lead with a three-goal second period and went on to score the final four goals of the game as the Corsairs handed the Owls a 4-2 loss on Saturday evening at Hetland Arena.

KSC (1-2-1) took a 2-0 lead with tallies by Luke Festa on the power play and Marcus Chrisafideis in the first period, but UMD (1-1-0) responded with two in the opening 8:53 of the second including the game-tying goal on a nifty tip in front by Vincent Nicosia of Brennan Pecararo's blast from the top on the power play.  The Corsairs took the lead with 3:29 left in the period when Kevin Johnston moved from the corner to the front of the net unimpeded and wristed home a puck that hit off the skate of Ryan Koshiol as Tyler Stewart tried to get around him.

Ben Skelton made six saves over the opening nine minutes of the third period to keep it a 3-2 game, with the Owls killing off a UMD power play in the process, but offense was hard to come by as KSC managed just seven shots after a three-shot second period.  The hosts had 15 attempts over the final 40 minutes, but four found the back of the net, including a critical insurance goal by Collin Patterson with 7:32 left as he entered the zone past two Owls and had a clean look at the far post, which he buried.

KSC had the better of the play from there, but Marshall McKallip made three stops and three other Owl shot attempts were blocked as UMass-Dartmouth, who will be a member of the 10-team Little East Conference in men's ice hockey next year, picked up their first win of the season after a 16-11-0 campaign a season ago.  They had played only one game, a 5-2 road loss to the Wentworth Institute of Technology, on November 1.  In fact, their next game will not be until next Saturday when they visit KSC to complete the regular season series.

The Owls were all over the Corsairs early, forcing McKallip to make six saves in the opening 4:37.  It was the rebound of a Thor Hansen shot that hit the stick of UMD defender Cade Hanley and trickled to Festa who fired a bad-angle shot that McKallip could not handle and found its way in.  A perfect centering pass from Declan House to Chrisafideis in front made it 2-0 with just 1:31 left in an opening period controlled by KSC, but the momentum was zapped at the intermission.  The Owls nearly hit on a perfect give-and-go opportunity between Sean Hoffman and Filip Tjarnhell with a minute to go in the first, but Tjarnhell's centering feed was just out of reach and went into the corner.

"We played a great first period and, unfortunately, got a little too loose, which I think is a mistake that young players and young teams make," said Keene State head coach Bobby Rodrigue.  "Tough lesson to learn, but an important one.  We've got to regroup for Tuesday."

Skelton (58:43) and McKallip each made 22 saves on the night.  UMass-Dartmouth had a slim 26-24 edge in shots and finished 2-for-4 on the power play while seeing four different scorers.

The Owls visit Southern New Hampshire University (1-2-0) when they return to action on Tuesday (November 12) at 7:00 p.m. before a game at Westfield State University two nights later.  They are back at home next Saturday at 3:30 pm when UMass-Dartmouth comes to town.