LOWELL, Mass. - Scoring 22 seconds into any game is usually a good start, except when you allow a goal only 40 seconds later. That's exactly how Friday night's 3-2 loss to Boston University (11-11-3, 8-9-2 HE) unfolded, dropping #18 UMass Lowell to 14-11-2 overall on the season and 8-8-2 in conference play.
OTHER LINKS: Blaise MacDonald Postgame Audio
The game started with a bang as the River Hawks stormed into the Boston University zone and found a weak-side seam to set up Ben Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, CO) for a score only 22 seconds after the puck drop. Maury Edwards (Rocky Rapids, Alb.) sent the puck to the near boards for Ryan Blair (Ashburn, VA), who then spotted Holmstrom on the weak-side alone. The UMass Lowell captain collected the pass and buried his sixth goal of the season to shock the Terriers and put the River Hawks up 1-0.
The quick score not only shocked Boston University, but seemingly woke them up as they reeled off three consecutive scored over the remainder of the period.
The first Terrier goal came only 40 seconds after UMass Lowell lit the lamp as Ross Gaudet (Burlington, MA) snuck a weakly shot puck past Nevin Hamilton (Ashland, MA). Nick Bonino (Unionville, CN) and Joe Pereira (West Haven, CN) assisted on Gaudet's eighth goal of the year.
Boston University then put the River Hawks on their heels with back-to-back short handed goals less than two minutes apart. Zach Cohen (Schaumburg, IL) struck first, bursting through the neutral zone to beat Hamilton with a back-hander at 9:49 into the first. David Warsofsky (Marshfield, MA) followed his queue, knocking the puck past Barry Goers (Langhorne, PA) to skate one-on-one with Hamilton, beating him short-side at 11:25.
UMass Lowell regained some ground in the second period on a well-executed power play score by junior Scott Campbell (Navan, Ont.). Chris Auger (Belleville, Ont.) sent the puck into the corner for Campbell, who then hit Nick Schaus (Buffalo, NY) in the middle for a shot. Schaus' shot went wide, but Campbell redirected it into the net for the goal. Campbell's ninth score of the season cut the deficit to one as the River Hawks trialed 3-2 with over 32 minutes of game time remaining.
Despite a hard fought final period, UMass Lowell could not net one more goal to tie the game, attempting only two shots on net. The River Hawks were outshot 33-18 in the contest.
Hamilton was solid in net after the opening period, saving 30-of-33 shots as he fell to 6-4-2 on the season. The Terriers' Kieran Millan (Edmonton, Alb.) stopped 16-of-18 shots and improved to 9-10-0 on the campaign. UMass Lowell finished the night 1-for-7 on the power play, while Boston University went 0-for-5 with the man advantage.
The River Hawks have a chance to salvage the weekend as they travel to rival Merrimack on Saturday night at 7 p.m. UMass Lowell is 2-0-0 against the Warriors this season.