Dec. 3, 2011

Box Score

Photo Gallery

Doug Carr (Hanover, Mass.) made a career-high 45 saves and Matt Ferreira (Brampton, Ont.)scored twice to lead the River Hawks over New Hampshire in the Whittemore Center on Saturday night. The win, the program's first in Durham, NH since 2003, completed a weekend sweep of the Wildcats.

With the victory, UMass Lowell improved to 9-4-0 overall this season and 6-3-0 in Hockey East action. New Hampshire dropped to 6-8-2 on the campaign and 4-6-1 in conference play.

The Wildcats dominated the pace of play in the first period, outshooting UMass Lowell 29-10 over the opening 20 minutes. Despite the uneven shot totals, each club found the back of the net.

New Hampshire scored first, netting a goal at 10:34 following a blazing display of offense in which each team raced up-and-down the ice. Casey Thrush (Easton, Md.) threaded a pass down the center of the ice to Justin Agosta (East Meadow, N.Y.), who used a quick release between the circles to beat Carr.

The River Hawks managed to tie the game back up with 27 seconds remaining in the first period. Riley Wetmore (Swanton, Vt.) cut off a clearing attempt in the Wildcat zone and found David Vallorani (Hamilton, Ont.) to his right. Vallorani skated into the teeth of the defense and drew the attention to the far side of the net, and then hit Derek Arnold (Foxboro, Mass.)on the weak-side for the finish.

After killing off a penalty to open the second period, the Wildcats reclaimed a one-goal lead at 2:15. Thrush hit Carr with a shot, then collected his own rebound and pounded the puck into the net.

The River Hawks tied the game again a few minutes later on a head's up play by senior Michael Budd (Burlington, Ont.). Classmate Tim Corcoran (Milton, Mass.) took a shot towards the net, but hit Colin Wright (Burlington, Ont.)midway and Budd fired the loose puck past Matt Di Girolamo (Ambler, Pa.) at 5:41.

UMass Lowell then captured its first lead of the night at 10:23. Terrence Wallin (Yardley, Pa.) and Joseph Pendenza (Wilmington, Mass.)set up Ferreira at the near circle, where the senior snuck a wrist shot between Di Girolamo's legs to take a 3-2 advantage.

The Wildcats responded midway through the third with a goal by Stevie Moses (Leominster, Mass.) at 12:22, who banged home as pass from Kevin Goumas (Long Beach, N.Y.).

It took just 25 seconds for the River Hawks to answer back again, this time Ferreira scored what became the game-winning goal, converting a rebound off of Pendenza's back-handed attempt. The goal was Ferreira's third game-winner of the year.

With just over four minutes remaining in the contest, UMass Lowell picked up an insurance tally from Vallorani. The senior executed a give-and-go with Arnold as they closed in on the net and potted his fourth goal of the season.

Carr picked up his eighth win of the season after making a career-high 45 saves and holding the Wildcats scoreless on three power plays. Di Girolamo totaled 27 saves and fell to 6-7-1 overall this year.

Up next, UMass Lowell hosts second-ranked Boston College on Friday and then visits the red-hot Northeastern Huskies on Saturday.