Feb. 25, 2011

Box Score

Freshman Joseph Pendenza (Wilmington, Mass.) scored twice as UMass Lowell hockey skated to a 3-3 tie at Providence College on Friday night. The scoring outburst was Pendenza's second multi-goal game of the year.

The River Hawks earned their first conference tie of the season, improving to 4-24-3 overall and 3-20-1 in Hockey East play. The Friars move to 7-16-8 overall following the tie and 3-14-7 in conference action.

The clubs skated through a scoreless opening frame as the River Hawks held the edge in play and shots, 12-8. UMass Lowell tested Alex Beaudry (Cumberland, Ont.) early and the goalie supplied a series of rebounds that the offense was unable convert.

Providence took control in the second, however, recording the game's first goal only 27 seconds after puck drop. Matt Germain (Rockland, Mass.) carried the puck out of the corner and put the shot between Doug Carr's (Hanover, Mass.) legs.

The River Hawks snapped back almost instantly, scoring a goal of their own only 41 seconds later. Michael Budd (Burlington, Ont.) put a shot on Beaudry's leg pad and the rebound settled softly just outside the crease. Junior David Vallorani (Hamilton, Ont.) smacked the loose puck into the net, snapping UMass Lowell's scoreless drought that spanned over 166 minutes. The tally was Vallorani's 10th of the season, a new career high.

The first goal lifted the weight off of the River Hawks' shoulders, leading to their second goal at 7:41 into the second. Vallorani carried down the near boards and centered the puck for Pendenza. Pendenza tipped the well placed pass into the net for his eighth goal of the season and put UMass Lowell on top, 2-1.

With the floodgates open, the River Hawks picked up a third tally at the 9:02 mark. While on the power play, Chad Ruhwedel (San Diego, Calif.) feed Pendenza at the far boards and he skated in a few strides. The rookie winger ripped a shot that hit Beaudry's stick and rolled up over his arm for Pendenza's second goal of the night and ninth of the season.

The Friars eventually caught their balance and were able to stop UMass Lowell's scoring streak with a pair of Providence tallies. Matt Bergland (Fairbault Minn.) scored the first, beating Carr's outstretched leg at the far post at 13:35. Germain followed with his second of the night under a minute later after Carr though he'd caught the save, allowing Germain to slip the puck inside the near post and knot the game at 3-3.

The scoring came to a screeching halt in the third period, with the teams playing a fast paced up and down game. The River Hawks' best chance came with 4:13 left in regulation as Patrick Cey (Saskatoon, Sask.) narrowly missed the net with a back handed shot to convert Pendenza's breakaway. Ultimately, after the Friars had a goal nullified near the end of regulation, neither team could muster a goal in overtime resulting in a 3-3 tie.

UMass Lowell's Carr finished the night with 39 saves as he improved to 3-12-2 on the season. Providence's Beaudry totaled 33 saves to bolster his record to 6-14-8. The River Hawks finished 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Friars came up empty in two chances.

Tomorrow night the parties will remain the same as the clubs conclude the season series, but the venue will change to the Tsongas Center in Lowell. UMass Lowell will honor its five seniors prior to the 7 p.m. puck drop.