CARR POSTS SECOND STRAIGHT SHUTOUT AS UMASS LOWELL TOPS ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE, 3-0
Sophomore goaltender Doug Carr records second consecutive shutout with 20 saves for River Hawks

Sophomore goaltender Doug Carr made 20 saves for the River Hawks

Goaltender Doug Carr (Hanover, Mass.) made 20 stops to post his second consecutive shutout as the River Hawks blanked Alabama-Huntsville, 3-0, in the Tsongas Center on Friday night.

In front of a crowd of 2,641, UMass Lowell hockey improved to 7-4-0 on the year with the non-league victory. The night marked the first time the River Hawks have secured back-to-back shutouts since Feb. 8-16, 2007. The Chargers slipped to 0-13-1 on the year with the loss.

Alabama-Huntsville played strong defense in the first period, repelling a series of penalties that resulted in two 5-on-3 power plays for UMass Lowell. The River Hawks finally broke through as a five-minute major at 10:09 proved too much for the Charger defense. Scott Wilson (Oakville, Ont.) threw the puck to the red line for Joseph Pendenza (Wilmington, Mass.), who immediately dished to Josh Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, Colo.) between the circles for the wrist shot into the net.

UMass Lowell punched another number on the scoreboard in the second period as Derek Arnold (Foxboro, Mass.) netted power play tally at 5:09. In a tic-tac-toe play in the Alabama-Huntsville zone, Chad Ruhwedel (San Diego, Calif.) and Matt Ferreira (Brampton, Ont.) drew the defense to the near side, and then crossed the puck to Arnold for the finish.

The game's finally tally came with 10:10 remaining in the third, a rebound score from Wilson. Ruhwedel fired a shot from the point that was kicked out by goaltender Clarke Saunders (Brockville, Ont.), but Wilson cleaned up the garbage with a fore-hand shot.

Despite giving up three tallies, Saunders stood tall throughout the game as he totaled 46 saves while falling to 0-10-1 on the year.

The River Hawks' Carr was equally strong, posting his second consecutive shutout after holding Massachusetts scoreless on Nov. 19 (4-0). He is the first UMass Lowell goalie to record consecutive shutouts since Carter Hutton (2006-10) in 2007. Carr stopped all 20 shots he faced, held the Chargers scoreless on four power play chances and improved to 6-1-0 overall.

The River Hawks will have the rest of the weekend off before engaging in a home-and-home series with New Hampshire on Dec. 2-3, starting at the Tsongas Center. Alabama-Huntsville has one contest remaining this weekend as they visit the Wildcats in Durham, NH on Saturday.