AMHERST, Mass. - Tallying the most goals since the 2008-09 campaign, the UMass men's ice hockey team (3-4-2) picked up a 7-2 win over Holy Cross on Friday evening at the Mullins Center. Sophomore defenseman Conor Allen led the way with a hat trick as he became just the third defenseman in UMass' Division I history to tally three goals in a game. Allen added an assist for a career-high four points in the win. Steve Mastalerz picked up his first career win with 22 saves in goal as the Minutemen will return home on Saturday night to host Hockey East foe Northeastern.
Redshirt freshman Steven Guzzo, sophomore Michael Pereira, junior Michael Marcou and sophomore Peter DeAngelo also added goals. Sophomore Conor Sheary tallied three assists, while senior T.J. Syner had two.
The Mass Attack outshot Holy Cross 44-24, while going 2-4 on the powerplay, and 4-4 with a man down. Entering the game, Holy Cross posted the best powerplay unit in the country.
It was a battle of periods for the Minutemen who registered three goals in the first period. Pereira scored the game's first goal, while Allen potted his first of the night followed by a marker from Guzzo.
With 17 shots in the second period, the Minutemen added three more goals as Marcou, Allen and DeAngelo all scored to make it 6-2 at the second intermission.
Allen wrapped up the contest with the game's final goal in the third period.
Erik Vos and Gianni Baldassari each scored goals for Holy Cross (3-4-0). Thomas Tysowsky started for the Crusaders and took the loss making eight saves while allowing three goals in the first period. Matt Ginn played the second and third periods allowing the final four goals while making 29 saves.
UMass' 44 shots was the second most for a game this season. Allen became the second Minuteman to post a hat trick this season after Pereira did so earlier in the win over Bentley. That marks the first time since 2002-03 that UMass has had two players with hat tricks in the same season. UMass also stayed perfect at home this year improving to 3-0-1 at the Mullins Center.
The seven goals were the most since UMass defeated Providence 9-4 on Oct. 31, 2008. UMass season high last year was in the 6-0 win at Vermont on Jan. 22nd.