(.PDF) | Postgame Interview | Highlights

LOWELL, Mass. – The No. 5 UMass Lowell Hockey team (22-9-3, 14-7-1 HEA) closed out Hockey East regular-season play Friday night, topping No. 14 Boston College, 3-1, at the Tsongas Center in front of a season-high 6,580 fans.
 
Tonight's victory completed the sweep of Boston College, securing the River Hawks a first-round bye and home ice advantage for the best of three quarterfinal series on March 10-12. The River Hawks are on a seven-game win streak heading into the Hockey East Tournament. 
 
"We are very excited to get a sweep in Hockey East, that is very difficult to do no matter who you play," said Head Coach Norm Bazin. "They are a very good hockey team and I'm glad we could close it out."
 
With the win, freshman goaltender Tyler Wall (Leamington, Ont.) collected his 21 victory of the season, setting a new program record for wins by a River Hawk rookie netminder. Connor Hellebuyck set the previous record with 20 wins during his freshman campaign in the 2012-13 season.
 
Prior to the game, UMass Lowell recognized its four seniors, captain defenseman Michael Kapla (Eau Claire, Wis.), alternate captain forward Joe Gambardella (Staten Island, N.Y.), forward Evan Campbell (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) and defenseman Dylan Zink (Madison, Wis.), in a special pregame ceremony in honor of Senior Night.
 
After 20 minutes of scoreless action, UMass Lowell was aided by a two-goal second period. Junior forward John Edwardh (Calgary, Alberta) broke open the scoring just 19 seconds into the second frame with a wrist shot that rung top shelf for his 15th tally of the season. The River Hawks continued to crash the net, later making it a 2-0 contest at 10:02. Freshman forward Ryan Lohin (Chadds Ford, Pa.) poked one home after collecting a loose rebound just outside the crease, giving the home team a two-goal lead through 40 minutes of play
 
Boston College would not remain scoreless, as Colin White scored the Eagles lone goal to cut the defect to one goal, 2-1, at the 3:30 mark of the third period.
 
With 13 minutes to play, the River Hawks looked to get one back when Edwardh was award a penalty shot after being tripped up on a breakaway. The forward gave his best effort but was ultimately denied by the pads of Boston College's Joseph Woll.
 
With time winding down, junior forward Jake Kamrass (Atlanta, Ga.) added an insurance goal for the River Hawks at 10:01 in the third. Kamrass posted his 13th score of the year with a wrap around goal that squeezed through the goaltenders' pad and helped propel UMass Lowell to a 3-1 victory. The forward went on to grab a game-high two points (1g, 1a) in the outing.

Kapla played in his 154th career game tonight, which broke Jake Suter's Div. I school record for game played by a UMass Lowell defenseman. He needs four games played to break the all-time school record of 158 held by Christian Sbrocca. Gambardella earned a team-high 12 faceoff wins on the night. 
 
Wall stopped 22 shots in the effort, while his counterpart Joe Woll stopped 18 in the tilt in the losing effort for the Eagles. 

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