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PITTSBURGH – Senior goaltender Kevin Boyle (Manalapan, N.J.) totaled his eighth career shutout with a 25-save effort to lead the No. 8 ranked UMass Lowell Hockey team to a 3-0 victory against ECAC foe Clarkson on Monday afternoon in the opening game of the Three Rivers Classic at the CONSOL Energy Center.

With the win, the River Hawks improve to 11-3-4 on the year and 5-1-1 in non-conference play. Clarkson falls to 7-7-2 overall on the season.

Boyle, who recorded his fourth shutout of the season, made 10 saves in the opening period for the River Hawks. His seven career shutouts for UMass Lowell is tied for fourth all-time with Brian Doyle (76-80) in program history.

Sophomore forward C.J. Smith (Des Moines, Iowa), who tallied a game-high four shots on goal, gave the River Hawks a 2-0 lead at 13:53 of the second period on the power play for his eighth marker of the season. Senior forward Adam Chapie (Oxford, Mich.) iced the game on an empty-netter with nine second remaining in the final period for his team-leading ninth goal of the year.

Junior co-captain Michael Kapla (Eau Claire, Wis.) and junior defenseman Dylan Zink (Madison, Wis.) each tallied two assists in the contest.

Junior forward Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.) got the River Hawks on the board first with 4:20 left in the first period on a wrist shot from the top of the slot that beat Clarkson goalie Steve Perry over his right shoulder for his fourth goal of the season.

The River Hawks went 1-for-4 on the power play and a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.

Clarkson's Perry stopped 23 shots in the losing effort.

The River Hawks conclude play in the Three Rivers Classic Tournament on Tuesday, December 29^th in the Championship Game against Robert Morris. Game time from the CONSOL Energy Center is 7:30pm.