PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's hockey team scored three times in the second period and held on to defeat No. 9 Massachusetts Friday night in a Hockey East game played at Schneider Arena. With the win, the Friars improved to 9-8-2 and 6-4-2 in the league. The Minutemen fell to 9-6-5, including a 4-5-4 mrk in the league.
After a scoreless first period in which the Friars outshot the Minutemen, 11-4, PC erupted for three goals in the second period. Sophomore John Cavanagh (Warwick, R.I.) scored from the slot at 3:03 as freshmen Jordan Kremyr (Cloverdale, B.C.) and Ben Farrer (Calgary, Alberta) assisted on the goal. Just over three minutes later the Friars increased their lead to 2-0 as freshman Matt Germain (Rockland, Mass.) connected on his first goal of the season. Classmate Joe Lavin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) fired a slap shot that was re-directed by Germain and past UMass goalie Paul Dainton at 6:04. Sophomore Greg Collins (Hingham, Mass.) scored a short-handed breakaway goal at 9:57 to give the Friars a three-goal cushion.
However, the Minutemen rallied with two late goals to cut the lead to 3-2. Brett Watson scored at 17:05 to pull the Minutemen within, 3-1. UMass pulled Dainton for an extra skater and at 18:20 Chris Davis was able to sneak a shot past PC goalie Tyler Sims (Fort Wayne, Ind.) who was screened in front. The Friars withstood a late UMass fury to earn the win.
Sims finished with 24 saves for the Friars, while Dainton stopped 27 shots.
The Friars are back in action on Saturday, January 19 when they host the University of Maine at PC's Schneider Arena.