.png&type=webp){kind=icon}
University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, October 18
Amherst, Mass.
7:30 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
4-1-0
5
vs
4
Bentley
0-3-0
1
2
3
OT 1
F
Bentley
3
1
0
0
4
Massachusetts
3
0
1
1
5
#11 Massachusetts Hockey Outlasts Bentley, 5-4
October 18, 2025 | Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. – In a back-and-forth offensive battle, sophomore Francesco Dell'Elce scored the overtime winner to lift No. 11 Massachusetts hockey past Bentley, 5-4 on Saturday night at the Mullins Center. With the victory, the Minutemen improve to 4-1-0 overall, while the Falcons fall to 0-3-0.
"I may have said it after Stonehill, but there's no bad wins, but it didn't feel great tonight," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "Our team's off. I really liked the team that played here against Northern Michigan, but this weekend, we weren't as good and I've got to figure some things out. But the team found a way to win. I still don't like that we gave up a ton of offense to other teams this weekend—breakaway goals, odd-man rushes, and that's checking to me, and we're usually pretty good at it. I thought Michael Hrabal was outstanding this weekend, although he gave up a few goals, we haven't helped him out much. He's done well. Nick VanTassell, I thought was our best player this weekend and Dell'Elce made up for his blue line turnover with a with a nice goal in overtime to find the victory."
Bentley began the scoring by converting on the power play just 1:56 into the contest. Oskar Bakkevig found Stephen Castagna at the net front for a tip in, while Michael Mesic earned the secondary helper.
UMass tied the score at 1-1 at the 4:29 mark. Bo Cosman put back a rebound from freshman Václav Nestrašil for his second tally of the weekend.
The Minutemen then took the lead just over two minutes later with Nestrašil cleaning up a loose puck in the slot off a feed from freshman Jack Galanek and junior Jack Musa.
The Falcons leveled the score, however, with Dylan Cook redirecting a shot from Tobias Larsen at the perimeter, 7:11 into the period.
Castagna then netted his second goal of the night to put Bentley on top, 3-2, at the 16:48 mark, finishing of a pass from Cook after Oskar Bakkevig won the puck in the neutral zone.
UMass responded by pulling level once more before the break. Freshman Lukáš Klecka redirected a shot from VanTassell at the net front on the power play at 18:05 of the first, while sophomore Larry Keenan earned an assist, as well.
Jimmy Doyle put Bentley back in front midway through the second period, causing a turnover and skating in alone on Hrabal for the finish on the breakaway 8:40 into the frame.
Keenan netted the tally for the Minutemen that would ultimately force overtime at 9:46 of the third period, ringing a shot from the blueline inside the far post after collecting a pass from junior Matthew Wilde and VanTassell.
Dell'Elce then potted the game winner 1:08 into the extra period, coming off the bench and firing home a shot from the high slot off a feed from Galanek and Nestrašil.
UMass finished the contest with a 34-27 shot advantage and went 1-for-6 on the power play, while the Falcons were 1-for-2.
Four Minutemen had multi-point nights, led by Nestrašil's three (1g, 2a). Keenan finished with a goal and an assist and Galanek and Van Tassell had two helpers each.
UMass will be back in action next Friday, October 24, when the squad travels to Nebraska to take on Omaha at 8 p.m. Eastern.
"I may have said it after Stonehill, but there's no bad wins, but it didn't feel great tonight," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "Our team's off. I really liked the team that played here against Northern Michigan, but this weekend, we weren't as good and I've got to figure some things out. But the team found a way to win. I still don't like that we gave up a ton of offense to other teams this weekend—breakaway goals, odd-man rushes, and that's checking to me, and we're usually pretty good at it. I thought Michael Hrabal was outstanding this weekend, although he gave up a few goals, we haven't helped him out much. He's done well. Nick VanTassell, I thought was our best player this weekend and Dell'Elce made up for his blue line turnover with a with a nice goal in overtime to find the victory."
Bentley began the scoring by converting on the power play just 1:56 into the contest. Oskar Bakkevig found Stephen Castagna at the net front for a tip in, while Michael Mesic earned the secondary helper.
UMass tied the score at 1-1 at the 4:29 mark. Bo Cosman put back a rebound from freshman Václav Nestrašil for his second tally of the weekend.
The Minutemen then took the lead just over two minutes later with Nestrašil cleaning up a loose puck in the slot off a feed from freshman Jack Galanek and junior Jack Musa.
The Falcons leveled the score, however, with Dylan Cook redirecting a shot from Tobias Larsen at the perimeter, 7:11 into the period.
Castagna then netted his second goal of the night to put Bentley on top, 3-2, at the 16:48 mark, finishing of a pass from Cook after Oskar Bakkevig won the puck in the neutral zone.
UMass responded by pulling level once more before the break. Freshman Lukáš Klecka redirected a shot from VanTassell at the net front on the power play at 18:05 of the first, while sophomore Larry Keenan earned an assist, as well.
Jimmy Doyle put Bentley back in front midway through the second period, causing a turnover and skating in alone on Hrabal for the finish on the breakaway 8:40 into the frame.
Keenan netted the tally for the Minutemen that would ultimately force overtime at 9:46 of the third period, ringing a shot from the blueline inside the far post after collecting a pass from junior Matthew Wilde and VanTassell.
Dell'Elce then potted the game winner 1:08 into the extra period, coming off the bench and firing home a shot from the high slot off a feed from Galanek and Nestrašil.
UMass finished the contest with a 34-27 shot advantage and went 1-for-6 on the power play, while the Falcons were 1-for-2.
Four Minutemen had multi-point nights, led by Nestrašil's three (1g, 2a). Keenan finished with a goal and an assist and Galanek and Van Tassell had two helpers each.
UMass will be back in action next Friday, October 24, when the squad travels to Nebraska to take on Omaha at 8 p.m. Eastern.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp){kind=icon}
Team Stats
BEN
UMA
Shots
27
34
PPG
1
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
6
2
Penalty Mins
12
4
Faceoffs Won
35
32
Game Leaders
+/-
3
Goals
1
Sh
6
A
2
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
5
A
1
+/-
2
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
2
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
2
Players Mentioned
D
/ HockeyF
/ Hockey
G
/ HockeyD
/ Hockey
F
/ Hockey
F
/ HockeyUMass IH | Coach Carvel Post Game Press Conference vs Bentley | 10.18.25
Saturday, October 18
UMass IH | Post Game Press Conference vs Bentley | 10.18.25
Saturday, October 18
UMass IH | Broadcast Highlights vs Bentley | 10.18.25
Saturday, October 18
UMass IH | Post Game Press Conference vs Northeastern| 10.17.25
Friday, October 17