(.PDF) | Post-Game Press Conference (Bazin, Jeff Smith)

BOSTON –  The No. 6 ranked UMass Lowell hockey team shutout Northeastern, 5-0, at Matthews Arena on Saturday evening.

With the victory, the River Hawks improve to 6-1-2 overall on the season (4-0-1 HEA), which marks the best start for UMass Lowell since the 1995-96 season, while Northeastern falls to 0-7-1 (0-3-1 HEA).

Junior forward Michael Fallon (Glenview, Ill.) opened the scoring in the game at 5:45 of the second period, off a Dylan Zink (Madison, Wis.) shot from the right point that hit a Huskies' defender and Fallon collected  the puck to the left of the crease beating Northeastern goaltender Derick Roy blocker side.

Freshman C.J. Smith (Des Moines, Iowa) scored his second career goal at 12:52 of the middle frame on almost the exact same play off a rebound from a shot by Zink from the right point. Sophomore defenseman Michael Kapla (Eau Claire, Wis.), who skated in the 50th game of his River Hawk career, recorded assists on the first two goals of the contest. C.J. Smith amassed a game-high and career-high five shots on goal in the victory.

Freshman forward Jake Kamrass (Atlanta, Ga.) gave the River Hawks a 3-0 lead in the second period at 16:34, as junior forward Michael Colantone (Cave Creek, Ariz.) came up the left wing and passed it across the slot for Kamrass' first collegiate tally beating Roy glove side.

Sophomore forward Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.) made it a 4-0 game on a shorthanded breakaway beating Roy glove side off the backhand at 8:28 of the third period, on a long feed from senior defenseman Jake Suter (Lac du Flambeau, Wis.). Suter put the finishing touch on the win with a slapshot from the right point, off a pass from senior Terrence Wallin (Yardley, Pa.) low in the left faceoff circle with 31 seconds left in the game.  

With 9:26 left in the second period, UMass Lowell freshman goaltender Jeff Smith (Maple Ridge, B.C.) stopped a penalty shot by freshman forward Ryan Rosenthal, after freshman blueliner Tyler Mueller was called for a tripping penalty.

The teams skated to a scoreless opening period with UMass Lowell outshooting the Huskies, 5 to 3.

Gambardella had a solid night in the faceoff dot, winning 11 of 17  faceoffs (64.7%) in the River Hawks' second road victory of the season.

Smith stopped 20 shots in his first career shutout in his third career start, while Roy notched 23 saves in the losing effort. UMass Lowell went 2-for-5 on the power play, marking the third straight game they have recorded two power play goals. The River Hawks are now 6-for-15 (40%) in the last three games on the man advantage.

The River Hawks return to action on Friday, November 14th, as they begin a two-game home series with Big Ten foe Penn State. Game time at the Tsongas Center is 7:15 p.m.