LOWELL, Mass.—A pair of goals from senior Reid Stefanson (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and junior Blake Wells (Blackie, Alberta) were not enough to help the No. 10/9 UMass Lowell men's hockey team (13-5-3, 10-4-1 Hockey East) overcome a 3-2 deficit to Merrimack (12-10-1, 7-8-0 HEA) Saturday night at the Tsongas Center.
 
Four different River Hawks registered assists tonight against the Warriors, with juniors Andre Lee (Karlstad, Sweden), Carl Berglund (Hammaro, Sweden), and Brian Chambers (Weymouth, Mass.) joining graduate student Connor Sodergren (Tewksbury, Mass.) on the scoresheet. In net, sophomore Henry Welsch (Lakeville, Minn.) made 26 stops in just his fifth appearance this season.

"The guys had a good effort for the majority of the game. We have to continue to find ways to improve as we get guys back into the lineup," said Head Coach Norm Bazin. "We weren't able to sustain a whole 60 minute effort, which we will continue to build towards."
 
The opening frame marked a battle for possession as both teams fought for the first touch, with the opportunity to strike coming late in the period. 
 
With mere seconds left in the frame, the River Hawks' top line quickly advanced up the slot towards Merrimack's Borgiel. Fast, crisp passing on the doorstep between linemates Lee and Stefanson ultimately caught the visiting netminder off guard, as Stefanson stuffed one through his legs to send UMass Lowell into the first intermission up 1-0.
 
Tight passing helped the River Hawks once again in the second period as they moved to a 2-0 margin. Moving the puck off the boards, Sodergren centered the pass to Chambers in front of the net. The junior forward then popped the puck to Wells, who flicked it up and over the blocker of Borgiel for UMass Lowell's second of the night.
 
The Warriors responded minutes later with back-to-back goals to close out the second period in a 2-2 deadlock. Returning to the ice for the final 20, both teams were evenly matched as they dished out seven shots on goal a side. The lucky strike bounced in favor of the Warriors as they knocked in the eventual game-winner on the power play to decide the conference clash.
 
The River Hawks hope to bounce back next weekend when they travel to Boston on Friday, Jan. 28, to take on the Northeastern Huskies at 7:35 p.m.