MILWAUKEE, Wisc. - No. 15 University of Massachusetts hockey used a three-point effort from Aaron Bohlinger and a 31-save performance from Henry Graham in his first collegiate start to help lift the squad to a 4-1 win over Lake Superior State on Thursday at Fiserv Forum. The victory in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off consolation game moves the Minutemen to 8-7-3 on the year, while the Lakers fall to 3-15-2.
"I know we haven't won a lot here lately, but I can see the pieces," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "I can see what we can be and I know it's a natural progression. We have a lot of the pieces and we'll get them together. It's just been rough, we just keep missing one part of it, but I can see it and I'm excited for the second half."
After a scoreless first period, Michael Cameron put UMass on the board 3:01 into the second with a power-play goal. The freshman corralled a rebound from Bohlinger and O'Hara in front and lifted the puck over goaltender Seth Eisele for his fourth tally of the season.
The Minutemen added another with the man advantage in short order as the same trio combined to put the Maroon & White up 2-0. Cameron, receiving the puck from O'Hara, was once again at the top of the crease but this time was denied by Eisele. However, Bohlinger crashed the net and was there to pop in the loose puck at the 5:13 mark.
Lake Superior State took one of the goals back at 11:58 with Brandon Puricelli putting back a rebound from Jared Wescott and Grant Hindman.
Bohlinger was quick to respond for the Minutemen, though. The Walden, New York native sent a bouncing shot past Eisele from the blue line off an offensive zone faceoff win by Lucas Mercuri 12:49 into the period.
Makar then capped the scoring with an unassisted tally at the 3:32 mark of the third period for his seventh of the season.
UMass out-shot the Lakers 38-32 in the contest and went 2-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
The Minutemen will be back in action on Tuesday, January 3, when the squad will host Brown at the Mullins Center at 7 p.m.
