Ryan McGrath netted a goal in UMass Lowell’s 8-1 win over Arizona State Saturday night. (Photo Courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics)
On a night where five different players scored for the home team, UMass Lowell took care of business in an 8-1 victory Saturday night at the Tsongas Center.
Lead by three goals from C.J. Smith and two from Jake Kamrass, the River Hawks swept the weekend series against first year Division 1 program Arizona State to improve to 17-5-4 on the season.
“I’m very pleased to get two wins this weekend,” said UMass Lowell head coach Norm Bazin. “They’re a first year program, but they worked extremely hard. They made us earn all of our space here over the weekend. I’m proud of these four points, and we’ll move on to next week.”
The River Hawks simply dominated from start to finish. UMass Lowell fired 57 shots on goal during the contest, while Arizona State only mustered 12.
“I liked the effort tonight,” said Bazin. “I thought our effort was better then last night. Limiting any opponent to only twelve shots is commendable. It was a good defensive effort, and we were able to create some offense because of it.”
It took the Sun Devils 14 minutes to get a shot on goal, but when it finally happened, they made it count. Anthony Croston beat UMass Lowell goalie Kevin Boyle glove side to give Arizona State the first lead of the game.
It was a lead that wouldn’t even last two minutes, however. Kamrass won a scrum in front of the net, and snuck the puck past Arizona State goaltender Ryland Pashovitz to tie it. The River Hawks took the lead just 70 seconds later when Ryan McGrath redirected a blue-line blast from Ryan Dmowski past Pashovitz. It was McGrath’s seventh goal of the season.
The River Hawks out-shot the Sun Devils 20-3 in the first period.
It was a dominating second period for UMass Lowell. It started when Boyle made two huge stick saves in front of the net on a 5-3 penalty to keep UMass Lowell in the lead.
Nick Master put away his fourth goal of the season midway through the second when he beat Pashovitz glove side.
The River Hawks faced another 5-3 disadvantage shortly after the Master goal. Boyle made another clutch pad save, and Joe Gambardella hit Smith coming out of the box for a break away. Smith originally hit Pashovitz’s pads, but picked up his rebound and put away the short-hander. Kamrass added on just a minute later when he corralled a loose puck in the offensive zone and fired it stick side for his second goal of the evening.
“Master and (Adam) Chapie have been playing real well, and have helped me form into their line,” said Kamrass. “I’ve been in the right spot at the right time, and they’re kind of talking me through it. I’ve just been getting to the front of the net, and getting ‘ready goals’.”
The River Hawks enjoyed a 5-1 lead after two, with the shot on goal discrepancy standing at 38-9 in favor of UMass Lowell. Arizona State switched goalies for the final period.
Smith scored twice in the third period. The first came on a powerplay when he beat backup goalie David Jacobson. The second was an even strength goal when he decided to go top shelf for his thitd goal of the evening.
“I’m just trying to continue to mature as a player,” said Smith. “I try to come in every day and improve by listening to what the coaches have to say and what my teammates have to say.”
Smith scored each a short-handed, powerplay, and even strength goal on the night.
“I’ll probably give it to my mom,” Smith said of the fate of the puck used tonight.
Evan Campbell decided to join the party with just three minutes to play when he put home a rebound on another UMass Lowell powerplay for is fourth goal of the season.
After letting in the opening goal, Boyle stopped all eleven shots that came his way.
The River Hawks got the points they needed this weekend, and can now focus on two home games next weekend against Northeastern on Friday at, and New Hampshire on Saturday.
