ERIE, Pa. – Senior Dillan Bentley (Peoria, Ill.) and sophomore Mirko Buttazzoni (Langley, B.C.) scored two goals apiece, as the UMass Lowell ice hockey team (3-3-0, 1-1-0 Hockey East) came back for a 4-3 victory at Mercyhurst on Saturday evening in Erie, Pa.

Bentley potted the game-winner in the third period on his way to two power play goals on the night, while Buttazzoni also picked one up on the power play as well as the game-tying goal in the third. Senior TJ Schweighardt (Manahawkin, N.J.) and freshman Dalyn Wakely (Port Hope, Ontario) each collected two assists, and four others joined them with one, including sophomore Chris Delaney (Hopkinton, Mass.), freshman Nate Misskey (Melfort, SK), senior Connor Eddy (Victoria, B.C.) and freshman Josh Mori (Richmond, B.C.).

Defensively, Mori and junior Sean Kilcullen (Kensington, Md.) led the way with two blocked shots, while freshman Austin Elliott (Strathmore, Alberta) got the nod between the pipes for the River Hawks, making twenty saves in the win.

"I felt good about our effort tonight," said Head Coach Norm Bazin. "It didn't go according to script, but this group dug deep and got the job done. In many ways, we played better than the first night but the group we faced played with some desperation. We had to overcome some bad bounces, and it will serve as a confidence builder for the season ahead."

Not long into the game, at the 4:25 mark, the River Hawks got the first power play opportunity after a Mercyhurst interference, but could not find the back of the net, despite a few quality looks. Elliott made some crucial saves on the other end to keep it scoreless and both teams battled for the remainder of the period to send it to intermission with zeroes on the scoreboard. The River Hawks won 11 of 17 faceoffs and bested the Lakers in the shots on goal battle 8-7.

It was an eventful second period, as the River Hawks got the scoring started at 2:35 on the power play. Misskey, Delaney and Buttazzoni crisply moved the puck throughout the offensive zone and Delaney eventually fed Buttazzoni, who one timed it past the goaltender for the lead. Mercyhurst then answered back with three goals at the 3:30, 5:48 and 12:02 marks, with the second coming on a 5-on-3. Throughout the final stretch of the period, the River Hawks applied the pressure offensively, creating chances and firing seven shots on goal, but could not cash in and the game went to the third with a 3-1 score.  

The River Hawks came out firing to begin the third, controlling the puck in the offensive zone and getting shots off, before Bentley cut the deficit to one on a power play at 5:45. Schweighardt fed Wakely, who blasted a shot that ricocheted off the goalie's pad to the stick of Bentley, who cleaned up the rebound for the goal.

Just past the midpoint of the period, Buttazzoni's second of the night tied it up at three. Mori fed the puck to Buttazzoni off the faceoff and Buttazzoni and Eddy traded passes as they entered the offensive zone, before Buttazzoni made a move to beat the goalie. Just 23 seconds later, Bentley scored his second power play goal of the night and the game-winner at the 11:25 mark. Schweighardt once again found Wakely, who sent a slapshot towards the net, that Bentley redirected past the goaltender. The squad was then able to kill off a penalty, before holding off the Lakers for the 4-3 comeback victory.  

The River Hawks will now get ready for a home-and-home series against Providence next weekend on Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1. Game one will be at Providence with a 7:00 p.m. puck drop, while Saturday's home game at the Tsongas Center is set for 5:05 p.m. on NESN.