The Providence College men's hockey team concluded its series against the University of Vermont Catamounts (1-5-0, 0-4-0 HE) with a 5-1 win Saturday night at Schneider Arena. The Friars improved to 4-3-1 overall and 4-2-0 in Hockey East. Vermont is now 1-5-0 and 0-4-0 in league action.
The only scoring of the first period was an unassisted short-handed goal by Providence freshman Ross Mauermann (Janesville, Wis.) who fired a shot over the shoulder of UVM goaltender Alex Vazzano. The Friars held on to that lead with a strong penalty kill of a five minute major that overlapped into the second period.
Providence extended its lead to two on a power-play goal from junior Myles Harvey (Orlando, Fla.) at 10:58 of the second period. Harvey's one timer was assisted by senior Daniel New (White Plains, N.Y.) and red-shirt freshman Damian Cross (Nepean, Ont.). It marked his fourth goal of the season. The Catamounts sliced the Friars' lead in half with a goal less than two minutes later by Tobias Nilsson-Roos.
On their seventh power play of the game, the Friars scored their second power-play goal of the night with junior Tim Schaller (Merrimack, N.H.) putting the puck in the net at 3:50 of the third period. Vazzano made a great save on junior Alex Velischek (Kinnelon, N.J.) and Schaller followed up on the rebound to earn his fourth goal of the weekend and fifth of the season. Velischek as well as freshman Drew Brown (Grass Lake, Mich.) registered assists on the goal. Friar freshman Matt Montesano (West Bridgewater, Mass.) put the game out of reach with a goal at 13:30. Harvey assisted on the goal for his second point of the game and sophomore Mark Adams (Boxford, Mass.) also picked up an assist in his season debut. Senior Andy Balysky (Randolph, N.J.) scored an unassisted goal to make the final score 5-1 with less than a minute remaining in the game.
Providence senior goaltender Alex Beaudry (Cumberland, Ont.) had a strong game in net stopping 30 of 31 shots. Vazzano also played a solid game making 32 saves for the Catamounts. PC outshot UVM 37-31.
The Friars will host the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers on Friday, November 11 for a 7:00 start at Schneider Arena. Vermont will host UNH on Saturday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m.