Quick Start Helps Providence College Defeat UMass Lowell, 4-2
Sophomore defenseman Jake Walman has goal and assist for Friars

Sophomore defenseman Jake Walman had a goal and an assist for the Friars
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
1st 3:51  PRV1-0 EV Kevin Rooney (3)Garrett Gamez/3, Steven McParland/7
1st 16:48  PRV2-0 SH Mark Jankowski (11)Trevor Mingoia/16
1st 18:17  PRV3-0 EV GW Brandon Tanev (9)Jake Walman/12
2nd 2:20  PRV4-0 PP Jake Walman (13)Trevor Mingoia/17, John Gilmour/12
2nd 10:24  UML1-4 EV A.J. White (5)Niklas Folin/7
3rd 2:24  UML2-4 EV A.J. White (6)Evan Campbell/6, Niklas Folin/8
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
UMass Lowell  0112
Providence  3104
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
UMass Lowell  622735
Providence  176831
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
UMass Lowell (14-5-4)  0/7 7/14 0
Providence (16-3-4)  1/7 7/14 1
UMass Lowell Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Kevin Boyle (L, 14-5-4)19:563 140014
Christoffer Hernberg39:091 05813
Empty Net0:550     
Providence Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Nick Ellis (W, 15-3-4)60:002 621633

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Jake Walman recorded a goal and an assist, while Nick Ellis made 33 saves in goal in the third-ranked Providence College men's hockey team's 4-2 Hockey East victory over first-place UMass Lowell on Friday night at Schneider Arena.

The Friars improve to 16-3-4 and 7-1-3 in Hockey East play, while the River Hawks drop to 14-5-4 (9-3-3 HEA) with loss. Providence remains in fourth place in the Hockey East standings with games in hand over Boston College, UMass Lowell, and Notre Dame.

21-of-33 saves by Ellis came during the second period, as the River Hawks pushed to close the gap against the Friars. Kevin Boyle (14-5-4) made 14 saves before being relieved by Chris Hernberg, who finished the contests with 13 saves.

Providence continued its first period dominance this season as they notched three goals, including two in the final 3:12 to rush out to a 3-0 lead.

Kevin Rooney got things started for Providence at 3:51 as he crashed the net and stuffed home Garrett Gamez's wrap-around attempt for his third strike of the season.

For the second time in three games, the Friars found the back of the net in a man-down situation, this one on a breakaway forehand deke off the stick of Mark Jankowski for his 11th of the season. Trevor Mingoia set-up the play with a slick pass through the seam to a streaking Jankowski, who elevated it over Boyle's pad at 16:48.

Just 1:29 later, Brandon Tanev notched the third Friars goal of the period on a wrister that beat Boyle to the short side. Another strong first period yielded a 19-6 edge in shots for the Friars, who now have a +26 differential in goal scoring during the opening period this season.

The Friars carried their momentum into the second period and extended their lead to 4-0 thanks to a power play blast by Jake Walman at 2:20. Walman's team-leading 13th of the season came as the sophomore teed up a slap shot from the top of the circle that beat Hernberg over the glove.

UML found its stride and carried the play for a majority of the second period, as they outshot the Friars by a 22-6 margin in the middle period. The hard work was rewarded as A.J. Smith sent a backhander towards the net the deflected in off a Friar body to put the visitors on the board.

Smith struck again just 2:24 into the third to make it a two-goal game after he deflected a centering pass from Evan Campbell at the doorstep. The River Hawks looked poised to continue their momentum, but the Friars penalty did the job with two key kills in the third period.

Up next, the Friars and River Hawks will tangle in the back-end of their home-and-home series on Saturday at Tsongas Arena.

HOW THEY SCORED

1-0 (PC) Goal scored by Kevin Rooney (Gamez, McParland): Wrap-around attempt by Gamez, Rooney slams home the rebound.

2-0 (PC) Shorthanded goal scored by Mark Jankowski (Mingoia): Forehand deke over the pad after stretch pass from Mingoia.

3-0 (PC) Goal scored by Brandon Tanev (Walman): Wrister short side from the left circle.

4-0 (PC) Power play goal scored by Jake Walman (Mingoia, Gilmour): Slap shot from the top of the right circle over the glove of Hernberg.

4-1 (UML) Goal scored by AJ White (Folin): Toss at the net that deflected in off a Friar defenseman.

4-2 (UML) Goal scored by AJ White (Campbell, Folin): Re-direct at the top of the crease.

NOTES

Mingoia runs his point streak to five games (4-5-9) with two assists on Friday night ... Walman leads the Friars with 25 points and owns sole possession of the NCAA scoring lead for defensemen ... Walman and Nick Ellis were nominated for the Hobey Baker Award earlier this week ... Tanev tied Walman for the team lead with four game-winning goals this season ... Brian Pinho's five-game point streak ended after amassing two goals and seven assists ... the Friars have outscored opponents 35-9 in the first period this season ... Jankowski notched his first career shorthanded goal ... Power Plays: Providence - 1/7, UMass Lowell 0/7 ... official shots on goal: UMass Lowell 35, Providence 31 ... Attendance: 3,033.