MASSACHUSETTS TOPS NORTHEASTERN, 2-1
Mark Matheson has goal and assist for Minutemen

Chris Davis scored midway through the third period to lift UMass (5-1-1/4-1-0 Hockey East) over Northeastern (2-6-1/0-5-1 HEA) 2-1 in league play. The Minutemen remain undefeated at the Mullins Center this season (3-0-1) and return to the ice next weekend for a nonconference game against Connecticut. Saturday’s game is scheduled to be played at 4 p.m.

Neither team put up a goal in the first, but the Huskies struck first with a power play goal just 20 seconds into the second. Brett Watson took the checking from behind penalty at the end of the first to afford the man advantage for NU, and Mike Morris capitalized with the shot from between the circles. Steve Birnstill and Kyle Kraemer assisted on the play to put the visitors up by one.

Massachusetts tied it all up at 6:44 with Mark Matheson’s second of the season. Jon Quick made the pass up to David Leaderer at the near board, who then made his way up ice with Matheson. Leaderer made the pretty pass across the crease to the assistant captain at the far side to make it a 1-1 game. The assist to Quick was the first of the goalie’s collegiate career.

Davis’ goal came off of a shot by rookie Justin Braun, slowly trickling over the goal line to put UMass up by one at 10:36 of the third. Matheson also assisted on the goal to conclude his two-point night.

The Huskies had a golden opportunity to send the game into overtime, with Matt Anderson getting called for obstruction hooking with 1:26 remaining. Even with the 6-on-4 empty net advantage for over a minute, UMass held on for their third-consecutive victory.

Quick was again solid in net, turning away 19 of 20 Northeastern shots in his sixth start of the season. Overall, shots were 30-20 in favor of the home team. NU was 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Minutemen were unsuccessful on six attempts.

Massachusetts now has a week off before facing nonconference rival UConn next Saturday, November 18. Game time is set for 4 p.m.