PC routs UMass-Lowell
Unbeaten run done after 10
UMass-Lowell’s 10-game unbeaten streak came crashing to the ice last night inside Tsongas Center after the River Hawks were soundly beaten by Providence College, 6-1, in front of 4,683 glum fans.
COLLEGE HOCKEY
The Friars were led by a two-goal performance from junior left wing Kasper Bjorkqvist and multiplepoint showings from wings Brandon Duhaime (goal, assist), Greg Printz (goal, assist) and Jack Dugan (two assists), and three assists from defenseman Jacob Bryson. Junior Hayden Hawkey turned aside 20 shots to earn the win.
It was the most goals allowed by UMass-Lowell since falling at Vermont on Jan. 20, 2018.
“Overall, our opponent took it to us from minute three until minute 60. I liked our first three minutes but not much after that. Our attention to detail was poor. Our focus needs to be better,” UML coach Norm Bazin said. “I had the feeling during the week that we were believing a lot of the nonsense that was being printed and these types of nights can ground you a little bit. Overall, our opponent came in ready to play to hockey and we werent ready. Games like this start with me. (Saturday) we can get the poison out.”
Last night’s game represented a matchup between the Nos. 2 and 4 teams in the Hockey East standings.
“It was nice for us to score some goals because we’ve been struggling a little bit of late,” Providence coach Nate Leaman said. “That was the difference in the game. They do a good job of getting on top of teams in this building so we wanted to be ready for the first six or seven minutes.”
UML (17-9-2, 11-5-2 HE) put the first puck into a net at the 1:26 mark of the opening period but before the fans and River Hawks bench could cheer, the officials waved it off, ruling correctly that UML sophomore center Connor Sodergren, who had been stopped by Hawkey on the initial shot, prevented the goalie from playing his position. It was an easy call and drew little protest from the home bench.
PC (17-9-5, 10-7-2) scored the official first goal on a beautiful re-direction play by Bjorkqvist, who merely turned the blade of his stick to steer a pass from Josh Wilkins into the upper region of the net for his 12th goal.
Duhaime made it 2-0 after one, then Bjorkqvist, Michael Callahan and Printz poured it on in the second.
UMass 4, Boston College 3 — Jake McLaughlin scored on a scramble in front with 2.3 seconds left and the Minutemen (22-6-0, 14-4-0 HE) stunned the Eagles (10-15-3, 9-6-3) in Amherst.
Cale Makar had a goal and two assists, while John Leonard and Philip Lagunov also scored as UMass erased an early 2-0 deficit. David Cotton’s power play goal briefly tied it for BC with 6:49 to go.
Casey Fitzgerald and Connor Moore also scored for BC and Joseph Woll made 26 saves. Matt Murray had 21 stops for the Minutemen.
Northeastern 4, Vermont 1 — Cayden Primeau made 32 saves while Matt Filipe and John Picking had a goal and assist each as the Huskies (18-9-1, 10-7-1 HE) rolled past the Catamounts (12-15-2, 5-12-2) at Matthews Arena.
Maine 3, Merrimack 3 — Brady Keeper scored the tying goal with 57 seconds left, rallying the Black Bears (11-14-4, 7-8-4) against the Warriors (7-20-2, 4-14-1) in North Andover.
UConn 3, Boston University 2
— Alexander Payusov scored 51 seconds into overtime to give the Huskies (1017-2, 5-12-2 HE) the win in Hartford after Patrick Harper and Patrick Curry had rallied the Terriers (10-15-3,
8-8-2) in the third.
Harvard 3, St. Lawrence 2 — Jack Badini scored with 1:22 left, capping a comeback by the Crimson (14-7-3, 10-5-2 ECAC) to edge the Saints (4-24-1, 2-14-1) in Canton, N.Y.
Niagara 4, Bentley 3 — Aidan Pelino made 33 saves for the Falcons (15-12-3, 14-8-2 Atlantic), but couldn’t hold off Ben Sokay’s two goals and assist to lead the Purple Eagles (11-17-3, 10-12-3) in Lewiston, N.Y.
Robert Morris 5, Holy Cross 3 — The Crusaders (7-18-4, 7-13-3 Atlantic) squandered a third-period lead as Eric Israel scored twice to rally the Colonials (10-18-1, 9-13-1) in Worcester.
Women’s hockey
Boston College 5, Maine 2 — Daryl Watts led five different scorers with a goal and two assists to lift the Eagles (23-10-0, 19-7-0 HE) past the Black Bears (14-15-4, 7-15-4) at Kelley Rink.
Merrimack 7, UConn 1 — Katelyn Rae had two goals and four assists and the Warriors (16-10-5, 12-9-3 HE) routed the Huskies (14-15-3, 9-13-3) in North Andover.
Harvard 4, St. Lawrence 2 — Kristin Della Rovere had a goal and assist and the Crimson (11-12-3, 9-8-2 ECAC) doubled up the Saints (1313-5, 8-7-4) at Bright-Landry Hockey Center.