Box Score

BOSTON -- Senior Eric Tufman (Abington, Pa.) and sophomore Mike DeGrazia (Novi, Mich.) each scored twice to power the UMass Boston Beacons to a 6-3 ECAC East men's ice hockey victory over the University of New England on Saturday afternoon at the Clark Athletics Center.

DeGrazia's power-play goal at 3:54 of the first gave the Beacons a 1-0 lead. The hosts would double their advantage at the 8:22 mark when junior Anthony Fitti (Havertown, Pa.) notched his fifth goal of the season.

UMass Boston made it 3-0 less than a minute into the second period on DeGrazia's second goal of the afternoon.

Sophomore Adam Laite (Sydney, Nova Scotia) got the Nor'easters into the scoring column less than four minutes later. Senior Jack Nolin (Somersworth, N.H.) and sophomore Paul Kashmanian (Grand Island, N.Y.) set-up the goal.

Tufman would push UMass Boston's lead to 4-1, but UNE responded with back-to-back goals by first-year Sean Sullivan (Worcester, Mass.) and Nolin to close within one. Sullivan's goal came on the power play and was assisted by sophomore Scott McManaman (Amherst, Nova Scotia). Sophomores Russ Franey (York, Maine) and Brent Bourgeois (New Haven, Vt.) had helpers on Nolin's tally.

The Beacons got some breathing room at 16:39 of the second on Tufman's eighth goal, then tacked on a third-period power-play goal by senior Brett Calhoun (Tulsa, Okla.) for the final margin of 6-3.

UMass Boston (13-4, 8-3 ECAC East) senior Thomas Speer (Wassau, Wisc.) made 33 saves to up his record to 6-3. For UNE, senior starting goaltender Mike Roper (New Glasgow, Nova Scotia) had 10 saves and four goals allowed in 24:40 of playing time. First-year Connor Brogan (Hershey, Pa.) came on to give up two scores and turn aside 21 shots.

UNE (2-13, 0-11) returns to the ice Friday (Jan. 28) for a 7 p.m. home game versus Amherst College.