HAMILTON, N.Y. - Behind a 25-save shutout performance by junior Steve Mastalerz and goals from both its captains, the UMass hockey team earned its second straight win, 2-0, at Colgate on Saturday afternoon. Following the victory, the Minutemen improve to 5-11-2 overall, while the Raiders fall to 7-8-2 on the season.
Senior captain Conor Sheary and redshirt junior captain Troy Power provided the goals for UMass. Sheary's marked his team-leading 13th point of the season and seventh in the past six games. Power's tally, his fifth of the season, marked his 10th point of the year to set a new personal best.
The assists by Sheary's linemates, seniors Michael Pereira and Branden Gracel, increased the trio's point total to 10 in the past five games together. Gracel extended his point-scoring streak to four straight games. Hanley's helper marked his fourth point over the past three games.
Mastalerz, making his 15h appearance in net this season, a new career high for games played, picked up his third career shutout, the first on the road by a UMass netminder since Paul Dainton blanked Vermont in Burlington on Jan. 22, 2011.
With the opening period drawing to a close, UMass found the back of the net to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. Gracel knocked down a shot from the point and Pereira centered the puck for Sheary to drive home from the slot at the 18:36 mark.
The Minutemen later added some insurance just 3:56 into the third. After another UMass player forced a turnover at the blueline, Hanley joined Power on the rush and, upon entering the Raiders' zone, sent a fluttering puck towards the net that Power batted in mid-air for the score.
The Minutemen out-shot Colgate, 40-25 and won 34 of 67 faceoffs, led by a 13 for 24 night by freshman Steven Iacobellis. Charlie Finn had 38 saves in the loss for the Raiders.
UMass will wrap up its weekend trip with its second contest against Colgate slated for tomorrow, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m.