Nov. 24, 2009

Box Score

The third-ranked UMass Lowell River Hawks (8-3-1, 4-2-1 HE) dropped a Tuesday night contest at Providence College (7-4-1 2-3-1), 4-2. The Friars scored four consecutive goals in the second and third periods to upset the River Hawks. UMass Lowell's woes at the Schneider Arena continued as the team is winless in its last five games at Providence (0-4-1), with the last win coming on Jan. 15, 2006.

Through a well-played but quiet first period, the River Hawks emerged with a 1-0 lead after a spectacular effort by reigning Hockey East Player of the Week Chris Auger (Belleville, Ont.). The Providence defense tried to clear the puck out of its zone, but didn't have the speed and the puck was cut off by Jeremy Dehner (Madison, WI). The senior defenseman slide the puck down along the boards to Auger who tried to wrap-around. Auger's first shot was blocked by goaltender Alex Beaudry (Cumberland, Ont.), but with a fantastic second effort Auger was able to hold off the Friar defensemen and knock the puck through.

Providence responded in a major way in the second period, collecting two goals and deflating all of UMass Lowell's first period momentum. The initial score came on the power play following a Ryan Blair (Ashburn, Va.) slashing call. Mark Fayne (Sagamore Beach, MA) took a shot from the point and had it redirected by Kyle MacKinnon (Walnut, CA) past goalie Carter Hutton (Thunder Bay, Ont.).

The Friars picked up their second goal in dramatic fashion after a tremendous offensive stand by the River Hawks that failed to produce a goal. On what appeared to be a clear by Providence's Matt Bergland (Faribault, MN), UMass Lowell failed to pick up Aaron Jamnick (Hibbing, MN) who made a mad dash up the ice for a one-on-one opportunity with Hutton. Right as Jamnick reached the net, Maury Edwards (Rocky Rapids, Atla.) came crashing into the shooting lane, causing a pile-up of all three players. Despite the wreck, Jamnick was able to bounce the puck over Hutton's leg pad and into the net to lend Providence a two-goal advantage.

The River Hawks played well to start the third period, but the results were too similar as the Friars scored twice more to seal the game. With 6:32 left in the third, Alex Velischeck (Kinnelon, NJ) scored on a weak-side rebound after Bergland put a shot on net from the far side. Providence scored again after UMass Lowell pulled the goaltender in favor of the extra skater--Fayne found the net on a well placed clear attempt that hit the pipe and went in.

Riley Wetmore (Swanton, VT) brought the game back within two with over a minute remaining in the game, but it proved to be too late. Jonathan Maniff (Revere, MA) took a shot from the far boards off of a pass by Chris Ickert (Abbotsford, B.C.) and Wetmore deflected the puck in.

River Hawks' goaltender Hutton stopped 37-of-41 Friar shots, but fell to 4-3-0 on the season. Providence's Beaudry made 30 saves to improve to 6-3-1 in 2009-10.

UMass Lowell has little time to dwell on the loss as it hosts the Maine Black Bears on Friday in the Tsongas Arena at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available in person at the Tsongas Arena box office or by calling Ticketmaster at (617) 931-2222.