University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
5-2-1, 1-1-1HEA
UConn
3-5-0, 1-4-0HEA
Third Period Push Lifts UMass Over UConn, 4-2
November 06, 2015 | Hockey
HARTFORD, Conn. - With less than five minutes to play in regulation, freshman Austin Plevy netted his third game-winning goal of the season to lift Massachusetts to its first Hockey East win of the season, 4-2 at Connecticut on Friday night. The victory moves the Minutemen to 5-2-1 on the year, 1-1-1 in league play, while the Huskies fall to 3-5-0 overall and 1-4-0 in Hockey East.
Sophomore Dominic Trento picked up his second multi-point game of the season with a goal and an assist, while seven more Minutemen contributed a point apiece on the night. Freshman William Lagesson scored his first of his career with an empty net goal to seal the win with one minute, 40 seconds to play in regulation.
UMass struck early in the first as Trento blocked a shot in the defensive zone, setting up junior Ray Pigozzi for a partial breakaway. Driving to the net, Pigozzi tucked his fourth of the season under Rob Nichols at the 1:14 mark.
However, UConn managed to knot the score at 1-1 before the close of the frame. Jesse Schwartz knocked in a rebound off the post from Shawn Pauly and Patrick Kirtland 16:46 into the first.
The Minutemen regained the lead, 2-1, at the 5:48 mark of the second period. Trento put back a rebound with sophomores Jake Horton and Maddison Smiley picking up the assists on the play.
UMass then withstood a lengthy 5-on-3 penalty kill only to have the Huskies pocket the equalizer shortly after. Karl El-Mir shoveled a shot from Jey Ferriss and Miles Gendron through traffic that found the inside of the far post 15:57 into the second.
With the third period winding down, Plevy blasted in a long rebound off a shot from Callum Fryer at the 15:06 mark to put the Minutemen in front for good, 3-2. Laggeson’s empty netter came on the penalty kill 18:20 into the frame.
UConn finished with a 42-31 shot advantage, limited to an 0-for-6 evening on the power play, while UMass was 0-for-1 with the man advantage. Nic Renyard totaled 40 saves en route to his third win of the season (3-1-1) and Nichols had 27 stops for the Huskies.
The teams will be back in action tomorrow night, Nov. 7, with game two of the weekend set in Amherst at the Mullins Center at 7:30 p.m.
For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter @UMassHockey and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.
