University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
7-12-4, 2-7-4HEA
#11 UMass-Lowell
14-4-4, 9-2-3HEA
Massachusetts Topped By No. 11 UMass Lowell, 5-0
January 16, 2016 | Hockey
LOWELL, Mass. - Playing its fourth straight game against a ranked foe, the University of Massachusetts hockey team dropped a 5-0 decision to No. 11 UMass Lowell on Saturday night at the Tsongas Center. Following the loss, the Minutemen are now 7-12-4 on the season, 2-7-4 in Hockey East play, while the River Hawks move to 14-4-4 overall and 9-2-3 in league action.
UMass Lowell took a 1-0 lead 4:30 into the contest. With one second remaining on a power play opportunity for UMass, C.J. Smith collected a feed from Joe Gambardella and Tommy Panico, skated in on a breakaway and beat Minutemen netminder Nic Renyard stick side for a shorthanded tally.
The River Hawks then pushed the margin to 2-0 at the 10:11 mark of the first. Ryan Collins finished off the play on the rush with assists from Smith and Gambardella.
Late in the second period, UMass Lowell added its third tally of the night. Gage Hough’s shot from the right faceoff circle off a feed from A.J. White and Chris Forney tipped the edge of Renyard’s outstretched glove and in 17:05 into the stanza.
The River Hawks went on to add two more goals in the third period, both which came in the first five minutes of the frame. Hough registered his second of the night at 2:46 and White capped off the scoring at 4:49.
UMass Lowell finished the contest with a 38-18 shot advantage, while both teams went 0-for-3 on the power play. The Minutemen won 47 of 37 faceoffs against the River Hawks, led by a 22-for-31 (71%) effort from junior Steven Iacobellis.
Renyard totaled 33 saves for UMass and Kevin Boyle turned aside 18 in net for UMass Lowell.
The Minutemen return to action next Fri., Jan. 22, when the squad will play host to No. 4 Boston College at 7 p.m. in the Mullins Center.
