Dec. 10, 2011

Box Score

Scott Wilson (Oakville, Ont.) and Derek Arnold (Foxboro, Mass.) each scored a goal, but the #18 River Hawks came up short at Northeastern on Saturday night, 3-2.

The loss snapped a five-game winning streak by UMass Lowell hockey, dropping its record to 10-5-0 overall and 7-4-0 in Hockey East action. The Huskies extended their winning streak to six while improving to 7-7-2 on the season and 4-7-2 in conference play.

The clubs skated through a scoreless first period that spanned both ends of the ice with a free-wheeling approach. The speed both teams displayed was countered with several key back-checks to keep the nets clean.

The River Hawks were outshot in the opening frame 12-15, but had several strong opportunities to score including a shot by Wilson in the closing moments that missed just wide and momentarily fooled the goal judge into flashing the light.

After a scoreless opener, both teams found the net in the second period. Northeastern struck first, netting a goal on a broken play in the River Hawks' zone. A failed clear attempt from behind the net allowed Dan Cornell (Abington, Mass.) to dump the puck low for Zak Stone (Roslyn, N.Y.), who found Adam Reid (Chino Hills, Calif.) on the corner for the crease for the score at 3:01.

UMass Lowell leveled the score at 1-1 near the 13th minute mark on Wilson's sixth goal of the year. Fellow rookie Stephen Buco (North Providence, R.I.) won a face-off back to Wilson in the slot, who snapped a wrist shot high to beat goaltender Chris Rawlings (North Delta, B.C.).

The Huskies recaptured the lead in the third, potting a pair of goals to take a 3-1 lead. The first tally came from Anthony Bitetto (Island Park, N.Y.), converting on a pass from Cody Ferriero (Essex, Mass.) at 4:25 into the third.

Northeastern scored again with just under four minutes remaining during a River Hawk power play. UMass Lowell pulled the goaltender to create a 6-on-4 advantage, but a deflected pass ended up on Steve Quailer's (Arvada, Calif.) stick and he flicked a shot down the ice and into the net.

The River Hawks refused to surrender, drawing the game back within one at 18:37. On another 6-on-4 power play, Chad Ruhwedel (San Diego, Calif.) and David Vallorani (Hamilton, Ont.) put the puck on Arnold's stick at the near circle for his eighth goal of the season.

Despite the renewed vigor, UMass Lowell couldn't scrap across another tally before time ran out.

Sophomore Doug Carr (Hanover, Mass.) was strong between the pipes again, but suffered his first loss in his last nine starts. Carr stopped 29 shots as he fell to 9-2-0 on the season. Northeastern's Rawlings also enjoyed a solid night, stopping 38-of-40 shots to improve to 7-6-2.

The River Hawks now embark on the holiday break, staying idle until Dec. 29 when they travel to Storrs, CN to face RPI in the opening round of the UConn Holiday Classic.