Jan. 13, 2012

Box Score

The #10/11 River Hawks surrendered a pair third period goals and the overtime game-winner as they fell at Vermont, 3-2, on Friday night in Burlington.

The upset loss dropped UMass Lowell's record to 12-6-0 overall this season and 7-5-0 in Hockey East play. The Catamounts got a boost to 5-15-1 this season and 2-11-1 in conference action.

The River Hawks kicked off the scoring with a power play goal at 6:24 into the first period. Sophomores Derek Arnold (Foxboro, Mass.) and Chad Ruhwedel (San Diego, Calif.) crossed at the point and Ruhwedel fired a one-timer that was tipped past goaltender Rob Madore (Pittsburgh, Pa.) by the screening Josh Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, Colo.). The goal was Holmstrom's fourth of the season and put UMass Lowell on top, 1-0.

The lead ballooned to two goals in the second period off the stick of Shayne Thompson (Stittsville, Ont.) at 6:10. Terrence Wallin (Yardley, Pa.) and Michael Budd (Burlington, Ont.) fore-checked to collect the puck behind the net and found Thompson in the slot for a one-timer. The score marked Thompson's first goal of the season.

Vermont made a splash in the third period, scoring two goals in a span of 23 seconds. Colin Markison (Princeton, N.J.) put the Catamounts on the board at 5:17 on a 2-on-1 counter-attack. Markison carried down the far boards and placed a shot low into the far corner to beat goaltender Doug Carr (Hanover, Mass.).

Then, just 23 seconds later, Sebastian Stalberg (Gothenburg, Sweden) converted on another counter-attack. Drew MacKenzie (New Canaan, Conn.) dished to Stalberg in the middle and the junior fired a wrist shot through Carr's five-hole for the score.

After the two teams exhausted regulation, the game continued into overtime. The overtime would last just 2:12 before Anthony DeCenzo (Hibbing, Minn,) found the net from Brett Leonard (S. Burlington, Vt.) to hand Vermont the victory.

In net, Carr fell to 11-3-0 on the year while stopping 30-of-33 shots on goal. Vermont's Madore totaled 24 saves to improve to 4-12-1.

The River Hawks stay idle through the remainder of the weekend as they prepare for a home-and-home clash with Northeastern next weekend. The series will start in the Tsongas Center on Friday and close out at the Matthews Arena.