River hawks upset terriers in tourney

UML to face BC on Wednesday in Hockey East semis

Walter Brown Arena had been a house of horrors for the Umass Lowell hockey program.

Not Sunday afternoon. Playing its first game at the arena since Nov. 20, 2004, a span of 5,959 days, No. 7 seed Umass Lowell shook off allowing an early goal to post a 2-1 victory over second-seeded Boston University during a Hockey East quarterfinal in Boston.

The River Hawks (9-8-1), on a 5-1-1 roll, advance to the semifinals after an impressive performance. Topseeded BC will host Umass Lowell on Wednesday.

“It’s just a great time of the year to be playing,” head coach Norm Bazin said.

“We get to live to fight another day here.”

Bazin surprised many by starting freshman goaltender Henry Welsch. Welsch, who hadn’t played since a 4-0 loss to Northeastern on Feb. 20, stopped the final 16 shots he faced after the Terriers scored on their first attempt just over two minutes into the game.

“It was a situation where they didn’t know Welschy as well as they know (Owen) Savory. It was just a gut decision,” Bazin said. “They’re both very good goalies.”

Savory was in net for UML’S 3-3 tie with BU eight days earlier. Welsch had never played against the Terriers.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the game was played at Walter Brown instead of Agganis Arena. UML entered the game just 4-26-1 all-time at Walter Brown. During his four years as a UML skater, Bazin never won at the Babcock Street arena.

With the game tied 1-1 and UML’S season on the line, sophomore Brian Chambers netted the winning goal at 8:20 of the third. He stepped into a rolling puck at the top of the left faceoff circle and his slap shot eluded Drew Commesso inside the right post.

“When I saw the puck rolling I just wanted to shoot it as hard as I could. Luckily it went in,” Chambers said after scoring the fourth goal of his 41-game college career. “It was kind of a knuckle puck that fluttered in. I’ ll definitely take it. It feels good. It was a big