University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
2-5-0, 1-4-0HEA
Maine
3-4-1, 2-0-0HEA
Maine Slips Past UMass Hockey, 3-2
November 01, 2014 | Hockey
Freshman Dennis Kravchenko scored his third goal of the weekend for UMass, while redshirt sophomore Frank Vatrano collected his first collegiate tally to extend his point-scoring streak to three straight games.
A power play opportunity late in the second period led to UMass breaking up the scoreless deadlock with the first goal of the night. Amidst a scramble in front of the net, Shane Walsh won the puck, pushing it to redshirt senior Troy Power. Power tapped it to Kravchenko, who lifted it past Sean Romeo 14:31 into the stanza.
The Minutemen then expanded the lead to 2-0 just 1:03 later. Sophomore Steven Iacobellis cycled the puck behind the Maine net to classmate Ray Pigozzi and Pigozzi set up Vatrano's one-timer from the top of the left faceoff circle.
Midway through the third, however, the Black Bears began their comeback. Devin Shore bounced a shot through traffic from the point that found its way past UMass goaltender Steve Mastalerz at the 7:04 mark with Mark Hamilton and Blaine Byron earning assists on the play.
Maine's Liam Pecarao tied the score at 2-2, 12:42 into the third period, curling into the slot for a wrister that found the back of the net off a feed from Steven Swavely and Nolan Vesey.
With less than two minutes to play in regulation, Conor Riley and Brian Moran assisted Byron's game winner on a shot to the right of Mastalerz, just outside the crease at 18:47.
Maine ended the contest with a 38-32 edge in shots. UMass went 1-for-3 on the power play, while holding the Black Bears to an 0-for-2 night with the man advantage. Led by a 10-for-13 (76.9%) night over the dots by redshirt senior Steven Guzzo, the Minutemen won 37 of 69 draws (53.6%). Mastalerz finished with 35 saves for UMass and Romeo had 30 stops for Maine.
The Minutemen will return home to the Mullins Center for their next contest, playing host to American International on Friday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m.
