UMass Lowell Gets Sweep of Vermont, 2-0

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The #17 UMass Lowell River Hawks (6-3-0, 3-1-0 in HE) are coming off a strong performance on Friday night. Special teams, most notably a power play, that went 3-for 4 took them to victory 4-0 over Vermont (2-5-1, 0-5-0 in HE). They looked to keep that momentum alive as the two teams finished their weekend series at Tsongas Center on Saturday night. The River Hawks, winners of four of five, have had good success vs the Catamounts in recent times and have won the last five meetings.

The first period was a skating affair between the two teams. Each goalie, Oskar Autio of Vermont, and Henry Welsch of Lowell were busy in the first 20 minutes. The best chance for the River Hawks came off a partial breakaway as RW Matt Crasa broke in and was stopped by Autio. Lowell kept the pressure on in the first ten minutes of the first frame. Owen Fowler was stopped by Autio on a 2-on-1 down low in the Vermont zone. The Catamounts’ best chance came just before the halfway mark of the period, as Porter Schachle was denied by Welsch off a rebound of a point-blank shot from Joe Leahy. The first power play of the night went to Vermont, as River Hawk defense men Brendan Engum went off for elbowing at 9:55. Vermont would get only one shot on goal during the man advantage as Will Zapernick was stopped. As the first period went along the Catamounts gained more time in the UMass Lowell zone. Welsch was up to the task each time. Vermont would get a second power play with :34 seconds left as Scout Truman went off for slashing. The penalty carried over to the second period.

Vermont did everything but score to start the second period. They buzzed the River Hawk zone keeping the puck and the Lowell penalties killers tied up in their own end for the duration of that penalty. After killing off the penalty, Lowell went to work in Vermont’s end of the ice. It paid off with the game’s first goal when Zack Kaiser scored his third of the season from the left side. The goal came at 4:04 of the period and was assisted by Blake Wells whose shot was stopped by Autio. Kaiser picked up the rebound and put it in the back of the net. Each team would have great chances to add to the score. First off, a scramble in front of the Lowell net and Joel Maatta was stopped by the pad of Welsch at the left side of the net. It was Vermont’s best chance to date in the game. Toward the end of the period, center Brian Chambers tried to get fancy at the right side of the Vermont cage and it almost paid off. But Autio was there to stop the attempt and the second period ended at 1-0 Lowell. Shots through two periods were in favor of the Catamounts 17-13.

The third period got underway with Lowell protecting that slim lead. Vermont had an early chance to tie the game as a shot from the right wing from defenseman Carter Long was blocked aside by Welsch. The rebound came to Jacques Bouquot on the left side of the net but Welsch came across to stop him and keep the shutout alive. At 6:42 of the period, Lowell added some insurance as Ryan Brushette scored his first of the year. The shot came from the high slot and was assisted by Owen Cole. The River Hawks now had a 2-0 lead with fourteen minutes left. Vermont, down by two, started taking some chances as you would expect. Schachle had two outstanding shots around the UMass Lowell net only to be stopped both times by Welsch. With five minutes left, Vermont needed to make things happen. The Catamounts pulled their goalie with 1:39 left to try and tie the game. But to no avail, as UMass Lowell gets back-to-back shutouts on the weekend, this one by a 2-0 score.

After the game, River Hawks head coach Norm Bazin was pleased with the weekend. He talked about both his power play and penalty-killing units saying “I am pleased with their performance but at the same time do not want to count on them all the time” He liked the way his team “attacked” in the third period to add to the lead and keep it. He loves the way his goalies have played through nine games. After a week off, the River Hawks get back to work on November 15 at Boston College.