(.PDF) | Postgame Presser | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell hockey team (22-8-5, 12-6-4 HEA) defeated Boston University (21-11-5, 12-7-4), 3-2, in game one of the Hockey East quarterfinals, in front of 4,810 fans at the Tsongas Center on Friday night.
 
"I thought it was an entertaining playoff game," said Head Coach Norm Bazin. "It is exactly what you expect out of a play off game. The space was tough to navigate out there and I think we started a little slow, but the second got a little bit better. The third we got more opportunistic and the difference tonight was the special teams.
 
Senior goalkeeper Kevin Boyle (Manalapan, N.J.) posted 33 saves in the outing, while sophomore forward C.J. Smith (Des Moines, Iowa) posted a game-high two points.
 
In a scoreless first period, Boston University held the shot advantage, 11-5, but a strong defensive performance by the River Hawks kept the score knotted 0-0 entering the first intermission. Both team's found themselves on a power play opportunity in the opening period, but could not convert, despite the Terriers posting five of their 11 shots on the man up opportunity.
 
After 26 minutes of scoreless action, Boston University struck first to take the 1-0 lead at 6:22 in the second period, after Jackob Forsbacka snuck one past Boyle and into the back of the net.
 
The River Hawks fought back to net the equalizer, thanks to junior forward Joe Gambardella who notched his seventh goal of the season to tie the game 1-1 at 8:58 in the second period. Sophomore Tommy Panico (Wall, N.J.) and Smith were credited with the assist after setting up Gambardella with the tally.
 
At 11:35 in the third, UMass Lowell took their first lead of the night, 2-1, after Michael Louria (Wexford, Pa.) flicked a wrist shot that found its way past goaltender Sean Maguire. Smith picked up his second assist of the night, while senior forward Michael Fallon (Glenview, Ill.) recorded his first point of the contest and eighth assist of the season.
 
The home team's power play unit netted its first goal of the decision, after senior forward Adam Chapie (Oxford, Mich.) blasted a shot in between the pipes to give the squad the 3-1 advantage and the eventual game winner at 15:22 in the third period.
 
The visiting team struck back just 33 second later to cut UMass Lowell's lead, 3-2, with less than five minutes remaining.
 
With 1:40 left to play in regulation, Boston University pulled their goalie to give the squad the man up edge against the River Hawks, but UMass Lowell held strong to keep the Terriers off the scoreboard and secure the 3-2 win.
 
Friday's meeting marked the 108th meeting between UMass Lowell and Boston University, as the Terriers hold a strong 72-27-9 advantage in the all-time series, including a 9-3-0 edge in Hockey East playoff action. The River Hawks are back in action at home on Saturday, March 12 at 7 p.m. for game two in a best of three series.