(Photo/Christopher Tran/Connector)
Last Wednesday night was a great night for underclassmen. Three freshmen scored, including Chris Forney’s first goal of the season, in a 6-4 victory over the UConn Huskies.
Despite giving up five power plays, the UMass Lowell River Hawks were able to tie up the special teams battle with two goals apiece, including a shorthanded goal for UMass Lowell. The River Hawks never lost the lead, but UConn had battled back to keep the game close for the whole 60 minutes.
“I don’t think anybody was bored tonight,” said Head Coach Norm Bazin.
The special-teams battle began early in the first period, after UConn’s Evan Richardson got two minutes in the penalty box for interference. On the initial faceoff of the power play, Evan Campbell, who has dominated faceoffs the entire year, was able to grab the puck for a quick assist. The puck immediately came off of Campbell’s stick, on to Dylan Zink’s stick, and then from Zink’s stick to the back of the net.
“Yeah that’s kind of our power play faceoff play there,” said Campbell. “We win it back we have a [defenseman] sweep through, that guy sprints off the boards, and Zink did a great job on it and shot through the net, it went in.”
Forney followed up Zink’s goal with his first of the season, to give UMass Lowell a two goal lead. The shot came from a centering pass from Jake Suter that wasn’t picked up because of traffic in front of the net. The puck had trickled over to the blue line, but Forney had picked it up before it crossed, and then executed a one-timer through the net.
Late in the first, UMass Lowell also gave up their first special teams goal. Suter got called for tripping, which lead a shot by Jacob Poe that gave UConn some momentum.
Yet again in a high scoring game, we saw great defense as well from the River Hawks Wednesday night. This was never more evident in the second period. In those 20 minutes, the River Hawks only gave up four shots on net. UConn only managed to score one goal off of a power play. To that point in the game, UConn hadn’t registered a goal during 5-5 hockey.
The second period also saw goals from freshmen Michal Louria and Ryan Collins. “You’re getting a lot of contributions from a lot of first-year guys, because that’s what the team’s comprised of,” said Bazin. “We’re going to need that if we’re going to have success.”
UMass Lowell’s biggest lead came in the third period, after Campbell scored in thrilling fashion. From center ice, Campbell stole a puck after a routine UConn pass, circled around, rushed past the blue line, and fit the puck behind the goalie for a three-goal lead.
“We saw some aggressiveness in the offensive zone; in the neutral zone,” said Bazin.
Regardless of the high score though, UConn didn’t give up on the game. The Huskies came right back and scored two goals from Richardson and Trevor Gerling. All of a sudden, the River Hawks had to defend a one-goal lead.
“They didn’t quit; that team is a good hockey club,” said Bazin. UConn Coach Mike Cavanaugh was happy with the effort as well, even though it resulted in a loss. “I hope it gives us more confidence going into the second half,” said Cavanaugh.
With under a minute to go, Adam Chapie shot the puck into an empty net to secure the victory for the River Hawks. This was their sixth win in Hockey East play.
“I think [UMass Lowell] is the very best team in the league that we have played top to bottom,” said Cavanaugh. “I think they put so much pressure on you for 60 minutes, that you really have to play on your toes and play exceptionally well and be mentally into the game.”
