FRESHMEN LEAD UMASS LOWELL PAST CLARKSON, 2-1
Freshmen Christian Folin and Michael Colantone score third period goals and freshman Connor Hellebuyck makes 25 saves for River Hawks

Sophomore defenseman Zack Kamrass assisted on the game-winning goal

Freshman center Michael Colantone (Cave Creek, Ariz.) scored with just over five minutes remaining in regulation to give UMass Lowell a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over non-conference rival Clarkson University at the Cheel Arena in Potsdam, N. Y.

Colantone, driving toward the net from the right wing, redirected a perfect tape-to-tape pass from senior forward Colin Wright (Burlington, Ont.) behind netminder Greg Lewis and into the back of the net.

Wright and sophomore defenseman Zach Kamrass (Atlanta, Ga.) picked up assists on the goal.

The goal, coming at 14:53 of the third period, broke a 1-1 tie and completed a two-goal third period comeback. With the win UMass Lowell climbed over the .500 mark for the first time this season with a record of 8-7-1. Clarkson falls to 4-9-5.

The victory extended the River Hawks' winning streak to four. It was the second consecutive game in which UMass Lowell has won overcoming a third period deficit. The River Hawks defeated Bentley, 3-2, last Sunday after trailing 2-1 late in the final period.

The River Hawks entered the third period trailing the home team, 1-0, despite outshooting the Golden Knights 23-13 during the first 40-minutes of play.

UMass Lowell continued to step up the pressure. "I thought the third period was a step above," says head Coach Norm Bazin. "We really started penetrating and getting puck possession time."

And it paid off.

Freshman Defenseman Christian Folin (Gothenburg, Sweden) made his first collegiate goal a memorable one. Folin knotted the score at one at the 4:30 mark of the third period walking out of the left corner, forcing the goaltender to his knees and snapping the puck into the upper right corner of the net.

Folin's goal was unassisted.

The River Hawks spent most of the night battling to come from behind. Clarkson had taken a 1-0 lead less than four minutes into the contest. Defenseman Andrew Himelson's left point drive eluded the glove of UMass Lowell goalie Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce, Mich.) and found space in the net just under the cross bar.

Forwards Ben Sexton and Pat Megannety were credited with assists.

The goal ended Hellebuyck's shutout streak at 126-minutes and 40-seconds, but Clarkson would get no more. Hellebuyck stopped 25 of Clarkson's 26 shots including several big saves in the final minute and a half with Clarkson skating with a 6-on-4 advantage after pulling their goalie during a power play.

With the final siren the River Hawks had also extended their penalty killing streak to 19 in a row. Clarkson was 0-for-4 with the man advantage, UMass Lowell was 0-for-5.

UMass Lowell outshot Clarkson, 30-26.

The two teams will meet again Saturday night at the Cheel Arena, 7:00pm.

UMass Lowell will not return to home ice until January 17th when the River Hawks host Providence.