(Photo courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics) “River Hawk players celebrate together.”
Tanner Hume
Connector Editor
Excitement was in the air this weekend at the Tsongas Center, as the River Hawks continued their homestead on Friday Night by welcoming the Boston College Eagles to town. The Eagles entered the weekend on a skid, losing five consecutive games. Lowell looked to improve their record with a win.
Starting Lineups:
BC: #13 LW Nikita Nesterenko, #11 C Colby Ambrosio, #21 RW Oskar Jellvik, #8 LD Lukas Gustafsson, #2 RD Eamon Powell, #1 G Mitch Benson
UML: #18 LW Carl Berglund, #21 C Brian Chambers, #16 Owen Fowler, #14 LD Ben Meehan, #11 RD Jon McDonald, #30 G Gustavs Grigals
1st Period: The intensity picked up almost immediately, and it started when 3rd line center Jake Stella got hit in the head late by BC Left Winger Mike Posma. For such actions, Posa would receive a 5-minute major for contact to the head, which Boston College killed off, disappointing River Hawks coach Norm Bazin, when he said after the game “Well I’m not sure. We didn’t score on it, we didn’t really get enough shots…” This lit a fire within the players, as with 2:53 to go in the opening frame, Right Winger Scout Truman opened the scoring for UMass Lowell on a later power play. As the period ended, Brian Chambers and BC defender Charlie Leddy said some unpleasantries to one another, creating some tension. “You get some friction between players sometimes, and ya. Keeping your emotions in check against any Hockey East opponent is very important because the games are so tight,” said coach Bazin.
End of P1:
BC: 0
UML: 1
SOG:
BC: 8
UML: 5
2nd Period: The period started quickly, when BC Left Winger Trevor Kuntar tied the game under 5 minutes into the period, tying the game for the Eagles. Later in the frame, BC freshman defender Swamus Powell scores his first collegiate goal, giving the Eagles a 2-1 lead. And late into the frame, with time expiring and the River Hawks on the power play, UMass Lowell Right Winger Fillip Fornaa Svensson tied the game with 5 seconds left in the period, sending the teams to the dressing rooms all tied up at 2 apiece.
End of P2:
BC: 2
UML: 2
SOG:
BC: 20 (+12)
UML: 18 (+13)
3rd Period: The third was do-or-die for both teams, and the next goal would win the game. Despite both sides creating multiple good chances in their respective offensive zones, neither side could break through, and thus, extra time was needed.
End of Regulation:
BC: 2
UML: 2
SOG:
BC: 30 (+10)
UML: 25 (+7)
Overtime: Both teams came out trying to end the game, but once again, like the third period, neither team could break through. It was time for the shootout.
End of OT:
BC: 2
UML: 2
SOG:
BC: 33 (+3)
UML: 26 (+1)
Shootout Results:
R1:
UML: #18 Left Winger Carl Berglund failed to score
BC: #19 Center Cutter Gauthier failed to score
R2:
UML: #24 Right Winger Scout Truman failed to score
BC: #2 Defender Eamon Powell scored
R3:
UML: #13 Right Winger Fillip Fornaa Svensson scored
BC: #24 Right Winger Andre Gasseau failed to score.
R4:
UML: #21 Center Brian Chambers scored
BC: #13 Left Winger Nikita Nesterenko failed to score
UMass Lowell defeated Boston College in the 4th round of the shootout, giving them the extra point.
After the hard-fought victory on Friday Night, UMass Lowell would welcome another Hockey East Rival to town on Star Wars night, as they faced off against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats.
1st Period: The River Hawks tried to get things started with multiple chances that they could not capitalize on. New Hampshire, on the other hand, were able to, when forward Cy LeClerc opened the scoring, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, they did it again, when defender Damien Carfanga increased New Hampshire’s lead by two.
End of P1:
UNH: 2
UML: 0
SOG:
UNH: 10
UML: 13
2nd Period: After going down by 2 in the first period, the River Hawks needed to respond, and they did in a big way. Three and a half minutes into the frame, Left Winger Carl Berglund cut the Wildcats’ lead in half. A little later in the period, the River Hawks would tie the game up on the back of Right Winger Scout Truman.
End of P2:
UNH: 2
UML: 2
SOG:
UNH: 10 (+0)
UML: 25 (+12)
3rd Period: Despite taking the lead thanks to the efforts of Right Winger Fillip Fornaa Svensson, the Wildcats would strike three more times to take a 5-3 lead. After one last gasp from a Jon McDonald goal, UNH would come out on top 5-4
End of Game:
UNH: 5
UML: 4
SOG:
UNH: 17
UML: 44
The River Hawks fall to 15-10-2 on the season, and they hope to bounce back this week, as they host Maine on Sunday.
