Vermont Catamounts Clip Massachusetts Minutemen, 2-1
Junior forward Rob Darrar and freshman forward Matt Alvaro score goals for Catamounts

Junior forward Rob Darrar scored a goal for the Catamounts
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
1st 6:22  VER1-0 EV Rob Darrar (3)Brian Bowen/2
2nd 2:43  UMA1-1 EV Kurt Keats (3)William Lagesson/3, Shane Bear/3
3rd 14:46  VER2-1 EV GW Matt Alvaro (3)Kevin Irwin/4
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Vermont  1012
Massachusetts  0101
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
Vermont  1051025
Massachusetts  26614
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Vermont (5-3-1)  0/5 5/10 0
Massachusetts (3-5-1)  0/5 5/10 0
Vermont Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Stefanos Lekkas (W, 4-1-1)59:471 25613
Empty Net0:130     
Massachusetts Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Ryan Wischow (L, 2-2-1)59:012 95923
Empty Net0:590     

AMHERST, Mass. - Junior forward Rob Darrar and freshman forward Matt Alvaro scored goals to help Vermont edge past Massachusetts, 2-1, on Saturday night at Mullins Center.

THE BASICS:

RESULT: Vermont 2, Massachusetts 1
LOCATION: Mullins Center (Amherst, Mass.)
RECORDS: Massachusetts (3-5-1, 1-3-1 HEA); Vermont (5-3-1, 2-2-0 HEA)

THE LEAD: University of Massachusetts hockey erased an early 1-0 deficit, but Vermont netted the deciding goal with just over five minutes to play in regulation to defeat the Minutemen 2-1 on Saturday night at the Mullins Center. The contest was a preview of UMass' opening Friendship Four matchup as the teams will meet again in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 13 days.

FIRST PERIOD:

Vermont controlled much of the first period play, outshooting the Minutemen 10-2 in the frame. Rob Darrar gave the Catamounts a 1-0 lead 6:22 into the stanza, firing home a shot from the slot off feed from Brian Bowen below the goal line.

SECOND PERIOD:

Early in the second, UMass managed to tie the score up at 1-1. Streaking across the top of the crease, sophomore Kurt Keats redirected William Lagesson's shot from the point past goaltender Stefanos Lekkas at the 2:43 mark. Freshman Shane Bear earned an assist on the play, as well.

THIRD PERIOD:

In a back-and-forth third period that featured several scoring chances for both sides, Vermont ultimately pulled back in front with the deciding goal 14:46 into the frame. Matt Alvaro knocked in a rebound off a Kevin Irwin shot to give the Catamounts a 2-1 advantage. UMass narrowly missed tying the score up at two when junior Dominic Trento hit the post with around 2:40 to play.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Vermont finished the night with a 25-14 shot advantage. Both teams went 0-for-5 on the power play.

- UMass had a dominant night over the faceoff dots, winning 64.4% (29-for-45) of the draws, led by senior Steven Iacobellis' 14-for-17 (82.4%) performance.

- Keats netted his third of the season, tying freshman Jonny Lazarus for the team scoring lead on the year.

- Lagesson's assist marked his third in the past four games. Bear's assist was his fourth point in five games (2g, 3a).

- Freshman Ryan Wischow (2-2-1) made his fifth start of the season and totaled 23 saves on the night.

UP NEXT: UMass will next travel to Durham, New Hampshire on Fri., Nov. 18, where the squad will face New Hampshire in a 7 p.m. Hockey East matchup.