Feb. 4, 2011

Box Score

UMass Lowell hockey was stifled at the Agganis Arena on Friday night by Kieran Millan (Edmonton, Alta.) in a 3-1 loss to #14 Boston University. David Vallorani (Hamilton, Ont.) recorded the lone River Hawk tally late in the third period.

The loss drops UMass Lowell's record to 4-21-2 overall this season and 3-17-0 in conference play. The Terriers improved to 13-7-7 on the year and 10-5-5 in Hockey East action.

The clubs skated through a scoreless first period, highlighted by several quality saves and slowed by just one UMass Lowell penalty. River Hawk Joseph Pendenza (Wilmington, Mass.) provided the most exciting moment, hitting the crossbar just over a minute and a half into play. UMass Lowell outshot the Terriers, 10-9, through the first 20 minutes.

The second period appeared to be mirroring the first, but Boston University's Max Nicastro (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) snapped his squad out of it with a score at 10:52 into the frame. Chris Connolly (Duluth, Minn.) came streaking down the far boards and spotted Nicastro closing in on the weak-side. The pass was picture perfect and required Nicastro to simply redirect the puck into the mesh for his third goal of the season.

The Terriers repeated the back door play just over four minutes later while on the power play. Corey Trivino (Toronto, Ont.) sent the puck from the top of the near circle and Garrett Noonan (Norfolk, Mass.) did the rest to put Boston University up 2-0 at 14:59. The River Hawks were outshot in the second period, 6-13.

After a pair of shorthanded opportunities came up empty for UMass Lowell, Boston University capitalized on its second third period power play with a goal by Joe Pereira (West Haven, Conn.) at 7:54. Utilizing traffic in front of the net, Pereira finished on a pass from Adam Clendening (Wheatfield, N.Y.) to put the Terriers up 3-0.

The River Hawks finally jumped on the scoreboard during a six-on-three power play at 18:26 into the third period. Vallorani grabbed the weak side rebound off of Riley Wetmore's (Swanton, Vt.) shot and scored his ninth goal of the season.

UMass Lowell stayed on the power play and even picked up a six-on-three advantage in the closing moments, but would get no closer before the final horn.

Marc Boulanger (Olds, Alta.) was strong in net, stopping 35-of-38 shots for his fourth consecutive start with at least 35 saves. Despite his play Boulanger falls to 0-9-1 with the loss. Boston University's Millan improved to 10-5-7 with the win, making 30 saves.

Tonight marked the lone contest for UMass Lowell this weekend, staying idle until Feb. 11 when it hosts Northeastern in the Tsongas Center.