(.PDF) | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – A three-goal explosion in the first period helped the Penn State Nittany Lions defeat the No. 4 UMass Lowell hockey team, 4-1, on Saturday night at the Tsongas Center.

Casey Bailey scored two first period goals for the Nittany Lions as the visitors opened up a 3-0 lead after the first 20 minutes. The first came on the power play at 6:17 on a rocket from the point that beat Jeff Smith (Maple Ridge, British Columbia), off a pass from Taylor Holstrom. His second goal came just 2:13 later when Holstrom sent a pass from behind the net to Bailey wide open right in front of the net.

Bailey almost completed the hat trick with 10:40 remaining in the period, but Smith shut the door on a breakaway attempt. Penn State (6-2-2) tacked on its third goal with 19 seconds remaining in the period. James Robinson sent in a shot and Eric Scheid beat Smith's glove to the puck to poke in the rebound.

Tommy Olczyk made it 4-0 just 47 seconds into the second period, coming from Holstrom's third assist of the night.

The River Hawks (7-2-2) created opportunities in the second period, Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.) hit the post with over 10 minutes remaining, and with 9:36 on the clock a high shot by Adam Chapie (Oxford, Mich.) caused problems for Eamon McAdam, but he was able to knock it away.

Gambardella got the River Hawks' on the board at 10:30 of the third period on the power play off a tip, as Zack Kamrass (Atlanta, Ga.) fired a shot at the right point on a feed from Tyler Mueller (Regina, Saskatchewan).

For the second consecutive night the Nittany Lions outshot UMass Lowell, this time by a 31-25 advantage. Michael Colantone led the River Hawks with four shots, and Bailey had six to lead the guests.

Penn State went 1-for-4 on the power play, and UMass Lowell went 1-for-3.

After making a relief appearance in net, McAdam made 24 saves for his first win of the season.

Smith made 10 saves in 20:47, and Kevin Boyle (Manalapan, N.J.) stopped 17 shots in 39:07 in relief.

UMass Lowell will return to action on Thursday, November 20 for the first of two road contests against Notre Dame at Compton Family Ice Arena. The puck will drop at 7:35 p.m.