University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
#15 Northeastern
UMass Hockey Suffers 2-1 Loss At #15 Northeastern
February 15, 2008 | Hockey
Feb. 15, 2008
BOSTON - A late second period goal for No. 15 Northeastern gave the Huskies a 2-1 win over the UMass hockey team on Friday night in Matthews Arena. Kyle Kraemer scored with just 14 seconds to play for the game-winning goal. After not being called for any penalties in the first two periods, UMass suffered three late calls in the third that hindered the comeback. UMass freshman Marc Concannon scored the lone goal for the Minutemen in the first period. The two teams will face off again on Saturday night in the Mullins Center at 7 p.m.
UMass falls to 10-11-6 overall and 5-10-5 in Hockey East, while Northeastern improves to 14-10-4 overall, 11-7-2 in league play.
Concannon put UMass on top mid-way through the first period when he snapped a wrister from the right face-off circle into the top right corner of the goal. It was his first career goal at UMass. Just over two minutes after Concannon's goal, Northeastern's David Strathman tied the game at 1-1 when he blasted home a shot from the inside top of the right face-off circle. UMass held a 13-to-8 edge in shots for the frame, while Northeastern committed the only penalty of the period.
Neither team could score throughout the second period until Kraemer gave the Huskies a 2-1 lead with just 14 seconds remaining. After Northeastern won a neutral zone faceoff, Joe Vitale skated towards the slot before dumping the puck back to Kraemer who was in the left faceoff circle. Kraemer sent a shot towards the top right of the UMass goal that beat Paul Dainton (33 saves) for the only score of the period. The Huskies held a 12-to-9 edge in shots to end the penalty-free frame.
It looked as if freshman Shawn Saunders had scored the equalizing goal for UMass on a power play with 6:26 remaining, but the referee had blown his whistle just a second prior to Saunders' shot signaling interference on P.J. Fenton. UMass was able to kill off the ensuing 1:34 power play for Northeastern, and called a timeout with 2:01 to play. The Minutemen pulled goalie Paul Dainton (33 saves) with 1:03 to go, but suffered a penalty 12 seconds later to finish the game down a man and unable to find the equalizer.
The Minutemen and No. 15 Huskies face-off again on Saturday night in the Mullins Center at 7 p.m. Fans can order tickets at 866-UMASS-TIX.
