LOWELL, Mass. – The No. 8 UMass Lowell ice hockey team (12-5-2, 5-4-1 Hockey East) fell just short against No. 7 Maine, 3-1, Friday night in game one of a two-game series at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Mass.

Freshman Lee Parks (Ottawa, Ontario) scored the lone goal for the River Hawks, extending his point streak to three games. Junior Scout Truman (Lethbridge, Alberta) had the assist, giving him three points in his last two games. Seven different skaters picked up at least one blocked shot, with graduate student Pierson Brandon (Irvington, N.Y.) leading the way with three. Three different players had two blocks, while another three had one. Graduate student Henry Welsch (Lakeville, Minn.) got the nod between the pipes for the River Hawks, making 24 saves.

"Overall, we lost a close hockey game tonight," said Head Coach Norm Bazin. "I did not quite think we had it from the start, maybe for a number of reasons, but it does not really matter. We need to be better if we are going to get points in any Hockey East games."

The first period was back-and-forth, with the River Hawks winning the shots on goal battle, 12-7. Junior Connor Eddy (Victoria, B.C.) had the first great scoring chance for the River Hawks at the 11:21 mark, zooming toward the net on a breakaway, but Maine goaltender Albin Boija slid in the way to save his shot. Ian Carpentier followed that up with a breakaway of his own at the 16:21 mark, but that was saved as well. After UMass Lowell drew a Black Bears penalty, Welsch made a crucial shorthanded save on a Maine 2-on-1 later in the period to give the River Hawks momentum. They threatened on the remainder of the power play, tallying four quality shots on goal, but could not find the back of the net, ending the period with a 0-0 score.  

The River Hawks came out hot in the second, with Parks scoring just 1:36 into the period. It all started when Truman won the puck with a poke check, creating a 2-on-1 with Parks. The two passed back and forth, before Parks beat Boija for the first goal of the game and third of his season. Maine tied it up later on at the 14:31 mark, before Welsch kept it tied with a great save on another 2-on-1 at 15:35. The game went to the second intermission with both teams knotted up at one.

The game was back-and-forth once again to begin the third, but it was Maine that scored first at the 11:18 mark. The River Hawks responded with pressure in the offensive zone and nine shots, but Maine added another goal on an empty net and the game concluded with a 3-1 score.

The River Hawks return to the Tsongas Center tomorrow night for game two of the series at 6:05 p.m.