The FGCU Division II hockey team took down the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Minutemen with two high-margin games on Dec. 6-7 at Hertz Arena.
The Eagles opened the weekend with a 7-0 shutout. Goaltenders Keegan Wise and Mason DeCaire stopped all 22 shots from entering the goal.
“I think the shutouts are big,” FGCU coach Eric Mabie said. “Obviously, the goaltender is a big part of that. But as a team, if we’re competitive or defending as a five-man unit on the ice and executing the way that we want to execute, we feel that we can shut things down when we want to.”
The first period’s only goal was made by Eagles’ forward Shayne Tomlinson at the 12:11 mark. Tomlinson was assisted by forward Jake Court and defenseman Shane Romback.
Court followed his assist with a goal of his own to start the second period. Forward Carson Engelmann netted the game’s third goal for the Eagles, with defenseman Kyle Lindholm scoring his first goal of the season in the final seconds of the period. The score put the Eagles up 4-0.
Forward David Walsh continued the onslaught, scoring a goal five minutes into the third period. Minutes later, Court secured his second goal, with forward Ryan O’Halloran rounding out the game for the Eagles with the seventh goal of the night.
With the shutout in the first game, the Eagles continued their dominance over UMASS with a 12-2 win to round out the weekend.
Seconds after the puck drop, Eagles’ forward Adam Beauvais secured the first goal of the night. Tomlinson scored the night’s first power play with Minuteman Andrew Gilbert in the penalty box.
Eagles’ Jack Cohen netted back-to-back goals in the fifth and sixth minute, the second goal scored on a power play. Forward Jordan Comilla scored the Eagles’ final goal in the third period. Massachusetts forward Dylan Lamonica scored unassisted.
Comilla scored a goal on a power play that resulted from interference. Minutemen JD Anderson secured the team’s last goal of the night on a power play. At the 15:51 mark, Shane Murphy closed the second period with a goal. The teams headed into the lockers 7-2.
Tomlinson and Beauvais opened the third period with a goal each. For both players, this marked their thirteenth goal for the season.
The last three goals of the weekend were all power plays. The first of these three came from Eagles forward Colin Anna, followed by Cohen for the night’s eleventh. The last goal was by first-year Braedon Dougherty, his first goal of the season, which was a common theme throughout the weekend.
“Getting that first goal off his [Dougherty] back in the last game of the first semester was a big relief for him, and all the guys, we’re really excited for him. He’s definitely a favorite of all the guys. He’s kind of that guy in the locker room that’s always joking around and having a great time,” Mabie said. “But also, when he gets on the ice, he’s pretty important for us as a way that he can not only defend, but he can produce offense as well from the back end.”
The Eagles don’t return to Hertz Arena until the New Year. With a 14-4 record, they will take on the Davenport University Panthers on Friday, Jan. 10, and Saturday, Jan.11.
