Box Score
No. 15/18 UMass Lowell scored two goals in the third period and withstood a ravenous fightback to defeat No. 9/9 Boston University, 4-3, Saturday night in a Hockey East clash at the Agganis Arena.
The victory was UMass Lowell's ninth straight – matching its Division I-era record – as it improved to 13-7-1 overall and 7-6-1 in Hockey East (remaining in sixth place) .
UMass Lowell visits Northeastern Friday at 7:00 and hosts the Huskies Saturday (7:00) to close out the series with the Huskies. UMass Lowell defeated Northeastern 2-0 in the first meeting on Dec. 8, the start of its nine-game winning streak.
BU slipped to 12-9-0 overall and 9-6-0 in Hockey East.
The River Hawks received goals from four different players: juniors
Joe Pendenza (Wilmington, Mass.),
Chad Ruhwedel (San Diego, Calif.) and
Derek Arnold (Foxboro, Mass.); as well as freshman
Adam Chapie (Oxford, Mich.).
Junior G
Doug Carr (Hanover, Mass.) – earning his fourth straight win – improved to 7-6-1 with 29 saves.
UMass Lowell led 4-1 after Chapie scored his second shorthanded goal of the year – both in the span of four games – 5:23 into the third period. The Terriers, however, refused to bow out and notched goals at 6:27 and 10:52 to cut the deficit to 4-3.
UMass Lowell's penalty kill streak ended at 35 straight when sophomore Evan Rodrigues cut the deficit to 4-2 when he took a cross-ice pass from sophomore D Alexx Privitera and beat Carr shortside.
At 10:52, sophomore Cason Hohmann sent a cross to senior F Wade Megan who had a half-step on freshman defenseman
Christian Folin (Gothenberg, Sweden) and backhanded inside the right post.
BU had several chances to knot the score late on. At 17:58, freshman D Matt Grzelcyk rung the pipe. With under two minutes remaining, junior F Matt Nieto found space on the right of the slot and shot just inches over the crossbar.
BU opened the scoring 5:11 into the first period when freshman F Matt Lane tapped home a saved backhanded shot from senior F Ben Rosen.
UMass Lowell nearly evened the score five minutes later when Ruhwedel released sophomore F
Terrence Wallin (Yardley, Pa.) on a break down the left side, but freshman G Matt O'Connor read the play well and snuffed Wallin's backhand to safety.
The equalizer would come for the River Hawks, however, 14:37 into the period when sophomore
Scott Wilson (Oakville, Ont.) crossed from the right corner through the crease to an unmarked Pendenza who slapped home inside the left post.
Ruhwedel scored his third goal in as many games – his fourth in his last five games – 11 seconds into a 5 on 3 situation 11:53 into the second period. Ruhwedel took a pass from Wilson and rifled from the top of the left circle for a 2-1 lead.
Arnold gave the River Hawks a 3-1 cushion just 1:40 into the third period when he robbed a clearance by the BU defense and wristed past O'Connor's left shoulder from between the face-off circles.
