Swiss Goalie Shutout Leads Rams Over UMass Dartmouth

Release courtesy of UMass Dartmouth athletics

NEW BEDFORD, MA - Framingham State goalie Alessio Muggli (Rueti, Switzerland) made 42 saves in a 3-0 shutout victory over UMass.- Dartmouth in MASCAC action on Tuesday evening.

The Rams close the regular season at 6-18-1 and 5-12-1 in Conference action.

Framingham State earns the No. 6 seed for the tournament and will travel to No. 3 seed Fitchburg State on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Framingham State junior Mark Essery powered the Ram offense on the evening, notching two goals and an assist.

Despite a plethora of Corsair opportunities in the first two periods, it was the Rams who sparked the hot start. Senior Richard O’Connor put Framingham State on the board midway through the first, unloading from the slot off assists from Essery and sophomore Tyler Gmerek to put the visitors on the board.

The Rams upped the lead by another with a minute remaining in the first, as Essery knocked the puck down on a two-on-one breakaway, beating goalkeeper Drew Michals. Freshman Ryan McDonough and junior Vaughn Guetens were credited with the helpers.

UMass Dartmouth turned up the heat in the second period, unleashing an offensive onslaught to outshoot the visitors 17-3, though neither team could find the back of the net.

The competition was more even in the final stanza, with UMass Dartmouth registering 17 shots to the Rams’ 12. Following a timeout with just over three minutes remaining in the game, UMass Dartmouth emptied the net, but the Rams took advantage, with Essery tacking on his second goal of the night on a cross-ice pass from O’Connor.

Both teams went a combined 0-3 on power play chances on the evening.