Umass Lowell nets pivotal win
Engum's first goal of the season the game-winning tally
LOWELL >> Brehdan Engum’s first goal of the season was a huge one.
The junior defenseman scored in the second period and it held up as the game-winner as Umass Lowell earned three key Hockey East points with a tough 2-1 win over Providence College on Saturday at the Tsongas Center.
Goaltender Gustavs Davis Grigals continued his fine season, stopping 22 of 23 shots to pick up the win for No. 18 UML (16-11-3, 10-7-3). Grigals stopped all eight shots Providence sent his way in the third period.
Defenseman Isac Jonsson thought he had scored in the first period, but it was ruled no goal due to offsides. But Owen Cole gave the River Hawks a 1-0 lead when he scored with 47 seconds left in the opening period.
Jon Mcdonald and Scott Truman picked up assists. Collecting a rebound, Cole sent a shot inside the left post past Phil Svedebeck (27 saves).
Engum made it 2-0 at 7:56 of the second period when he jumped into the rush. Jonsson passed to Ryan Brushett, who skated into the left faceoff circle and dished to his right to a cutting Engum, who wasted no time sending a shot that broke into the Providence net.
Providence scored its lone goal later in the second period off a shot from Bennett Schimek.
Neither team was able to capitalize on the power play. UML went 0-for-4, while Providence went 0-for-2 with the man advantage. UML took four out of a possible six points from Providence over the weekend. The Friars won 3-2 in overtime on Friday night, though UML salvaged a point with a goal in the final minute of regulation.
The River Hawks return to action next weekend to face rival Merrimack College twice. UML will host Friday’s game (7:15 p.m.), with Saturday’s rematch in North Andover (7 p.m.). UML has four regular-season games remaining.