LOWELL, Mass. – Senior goaltender Kevin Boyle (Manalapan, N.J.) set the new single season shutout record (7), as the UMass Lowell Hockey team defeated Boston University, 5-0, to sweep the quarterfinal series on Saturday night in front of 5,987 fans at the Tsongas Center.
 
With the win, UMass Lowell improves to 23-8-5 overall, while Boston University falls to 21-12-5 overall.
 
"We were very excited we could get it done tonight," said Head Coach Norm Bazin. "They are an excellent hockey club and it's a great effort by all involved. Obviously Kevin had the shutout but I think it was a team shutout and just an all-around great effort."
 
Tonight's shutout was the first time since March 23, 2013 that the River Hawks have blanked the Terriers. In the 1-0 win, Connor Hellebuyck posted 36 saves as the team won its first Hockey East Tournament Championship. The River Hawks have now advanced the TD Garden for the Hockey East semifinals in four consecutive seasons.
 
It did not take long for UMass Lowell to break open the scoring, as the home team jumped out to the 1-0 lead just three minutes into the game. Sophomore forward Jake Kamrass (Atlanta, Ga.) notched his fifth goal of the year, after drilling a snap shot from the blue line past goalkeeper Sean Maguire. Senior forward Adam Chapie (Oxford, Mich.) and freshman defenseman Niklas Folin (Kungsbacka, Swedan) picked up the assist on the lone goal of the first period.
 
The River Hawks continued to carry the momentum into the second period, tacking on two more goals to carry a 3-0 lead into the second intermission.
 
At 6:26 in the second, Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y,) drove to the front of the net and snapped the puck between Maguire's giving the River Hawks a two goal lead. Four minutes later, the home team was back for more thanks to a goal from sophomore forward C.J. Smith (Des Moines, Iowa) for his first tally of the night.
 
The third period continued to sway in favor of the River Hawks, as the squad tacked on another pair of insurance goals. Smith got things rolling, netting his second goal of the night, while sophomore forward John Edwardh (Calgary, Alberta) added his third of the year for a commanding 5-0 lead with 11:30 left to play.
 
Senior defenseman Michael Kapla (Eau Claire, Wis.), freshman forward Nick Master (Broomall, Pa.) and sophomore defenseman Chris Forney (Thief River Falls, Minn.) each dished out a helper in the contest for UMass Lowell.
 
Saturday's contest marked the 109th meeting between the two squads, as Boston University holds a 72-28-9 advantage in the all-time series, including a 9-4-0 edge in play off action. UMass Lowell is back in action on Friday, March 18 for the Hockey East semifinals at the TD Garden in Boston. Game times are 5 and 8 p.m.