Newark, Del. — The University of Delaware Division 3 men’s hockey team (1-1-1) split their weekend slate of Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference divisional matchups, obliterating the first-year program from UMBC 26-1 on Friday (Sept. 27) before falling to Salisbury in a tightly-contested 3-2 decision on Saturday (Sept. 28) at Gold Arena.
Friday, Sept. 27 — Delaware 26, UMBC 1
The Blue Hens scored on the Retrievers — who dressed only 10 skaters — early and often, registering seven goals in the first period and six more in the second before unleashing a 13-goal third in what was easily the most lopsided victory in program history.
Steven Palomba led Delaware with five goals, Brandon LaSpina registered a hat trick, and Safwaan Khan, Luke Rich, Tom Allen, Aiden Umhafer and Nolan Warsaw all scored two goals apiece.
Delaware netminders Gabe Nadell and Danny Miller combined to face but 10 shots from UMBC, but were deprived of a tandem shutout in the final 21 seconds of the game, when a net-front tip from Ethan Frese accounted for the Retrievers’ lone goal.
UMBC goalies Sean Brown and Antoine Green combined to face a total of 60 shots on goal; Brown was pegged with the loss.
Saturday, Sept. 28 — Salisbury 3, Delaware 2
After their facile win over UMBC the night before, Delaware met their match in Delmarva rival Salisbury, falling short to the Gulls 3-2 despite recording 19 shots on goal in the third period.
The Gulls accounted for the lone goal in a fast-paced, back-and-forth first period, when Justin Lazzarino directed a long-range shot from Declan Scott past Nadell with 5:05 elapsed. Warsaw tied the game for Delaware 9:33 into the second period, beating Dan Hallman from close range from a Jack Mastronardi assist. Salisbury’s Chris Carson and Delaware’s Umhafer traded goals just beyond the midpoint of the second, and Gulls captain Jack Petersohn broke the 2-2 tie with 4:01 left in the frame, walking the puck in from an attacking zone face-off and firing a wrist shot past Nadell from close range.
The Blue Hens had their share of chances in the final 20 minutes — recording 19 shots and having the benefit of two power plays on boarding and interference penalties assessed to Petersohn, but Hallman made a series of spectacular saves to keep Delaware scoreless through the third period and preserve Salisbury’s victory. In all, Hallman saved 36 of 38 shots faced, while Nadell stopped 20 of 23 shots in defeat.
Delaware next hosts Ramapo (N.J.) on Saturday (Oct. 5); coverage on DHN Radio will begin immediately following the completion of the Delaware-Liberty Division 2 women’s game.
