NORTHEASTERN SKATES PAST UMASS LOWELL, 6-2
Freshman Kyle Kraemer has two goals and assist for Huskies

LOWELL, MA (Jan. 19, 2007) – Mike Morris (Braintree, MA) had four assists and Chad Costello (Johnston, IA) had two goals and two assists as Northeastern defeated UMass Lowell, 6-2, Friday night in college hockey action at the Tsongas Arena.

With the win, the Huskies improve to 7-11-4 overall and 4-9-4 in Hockey East. The loss drops the River Hawks to 3-16-5 overall and 2-11-2 in league play.

Northeastern’s top line of Kraemer (2 goals, 1 assist), Morris (4 assists) and Costello (2 goals, 2 assists) combined for four of the team’s six goals and 10 points overall. Bryan Esner (Paradise Valley, AZ) and Randy Guzior (Lemont, IL) also scored for Northeastern.

Kory Falite (Billerica, MA) and Frank Stegnar (Toronto, ON) scored for UML. The two teams traded goals early with Costello scoring 29 seconds into the contest for Northeastern and Falite netted his seventh of the year at 1:17.

Starting with Kraemer’s goal at 9:57 of the first, Northeastern scored the game’s next three goals to open up a 4-1 lead. Guzior scored at 19:28 of the first and Kraemer netted his second of the night at 3:28 of the second.

Stegnar cut the UML deficit to two goals when he scored his third of the year at 9:06 of the second. Mike Potacco (Kinnelon, NJ) and Jason Tejchma (Muskegon, MI) earned the assists.

The score remained 4-2 until late in the third period when Esner and Costello added insurance goals. Esner’s came with the UML net empty at 18:52. Costello scored 50 seconds later, at 19:18, with an assist from Morris, his fourth of the night.

Brad Thiessen stopped 27 shots for Northeastern to earn the win. Nevin Hamilton, who played 8:06 of relief duty in the first period, took the loss, allowing a goal – the third for the Huskies and the game-winner – on the only shot he faced. Vinny Monaco started the game and played the final two periods. Monaco allowed four goals and made 21 saves.

A bright spot for Lowell was the play of Ben Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, CO). The freshman center earned an assist on Falite’s goal and won 13 of 18 face-offs in just his third game back from an ankle injury.

“I thought Ben Holmstrom was just outstanding,” said UML head coach Blaise MacDonald. “His line was our best line and often times won every single shift. I like the fact that we’re down a lot and battle back and make it 4-2. I give Jason Tejchma and Jeremy Hall credit as captains to inspire this team until the very end.”

Each team totaled 29 shots in the game. Lowell was 0-for-3 on the power play. Northeastern went 0-for-1 with the man-advantage.

The two teams conclude their home-and-home series Saturday night at Matthews Arena in Boston. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.