Massachusetts Picks Up First Hockey East Win at Merrimack, 3-1

Team	1	2	3	F
Massachusetts	3	0	0	3
Merrimack	0	1	0	1

Massachusetts

Merrimack

THE BASICS:
RESULT: Massachusetts 3, Merrimack 1
LOCATION: Lawler Rink (North Andover, Mass.)
RECORDS: Massachusetts (3-4-1, 1-2-1 HEA); Merrimack (4-5-2, 0-2-2 HEA)

THE LEAD: A three-goal first period helped propel University of Massachusetts hockey to its first Hockey East win of the season, a 3-1 victory at Merrimack on Friday night. Junior Anthony Petrella, freshman Shane Bear and freshman Jonny Lazarus provided the goals for the Minutemen, while sophomore Nic Renyard totaled 40 saves.

FIRST PERIOD:
UMass raced out to a 3-0 lead in the opening frame, starting off with a goal from Petrella 4:01 into the contest. Petrella redirected in a shot from sophomore William Lagesson at the point for his second of the season with freshman Griff Jeszka earning an assist, as well. The Minutemen added their second of the night on a 4-on-3 power play at the 9:38 mark. After collecting a pass from senior Steven Iacobellis, sophomore Austin Plevy curled around the back of the net and found Bear in the slot for a one-timer. Lazarus then completed the scoring for UMass after causing a turnover in the neutral zone and driving to the net for the tally at 11:56.

SECOND PERIOD:
Merrimack's only goal of the night came 1:24 into the second period. Off a feed from Chris LeBlanc and Alex Carle, Derek Petti fired a shot from the right faceoff circle that tucked inside the far post.

THIRD PERIOD:
The Minutemen's defense held strong in a scoreless third, fending off three Merrimack power plays, including a 6-on-4 at the end of the period after the Warriors pulled netminder Drew Vogler. Seventeen of Renyard's 40 stops came in the final stanza.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Merrimack out-shot UMass, 41-20 on the evening and went 0-for-5 with the man advantage, while the Minutemen were 1-for-5.
Bear's goal marked his second of the season and second on the power play.
Lazarus scored his third of the year, which leads the team through eight games.
The win marked head coach Greg Carvel's first career Hockey East victory and was the Minutemen's first on the road at Merrimack since Feb. 8, 2008.
Petrella's goal was his second of the year, tying a career single season high.
Renyard posted his sixth 40-save performance of his career in net for the Minutemen and second of the season.

UP NEXT: UMass will be back in action tomorrow night, Nov. 12, when the squad will play host to Vermont at 7 p.m. in the Mullins Center.

For continued coverage of UMass hockey, follow the team on Twitter (@UMassHockey) and Instagram (@MassachusettsHockey) and on Facebook at facebook.com/UMassHockey.

Scoreboard