AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts hockey built a 3-0 lead only to have Vermont answer with a three-goal third period as the teams battled to a 3-3 tie at the Mullins Center on Friday evening. The Minutemen (10-13-4, 4-11-2 HE) went on to take the extra point in the Hockey East standings with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Catamounts (9-15-4, 4-12-2 HE).
"I didn't like the way we played tonight," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "When you take seven penalties there's a reason for that. Guys didn't come out and play with the integrity that's necessary and giving up a three-goal lead in the third period, I don't know if I've ever done that as a coach. I'm not happy at all about the game. It's great to see two freshmen score in shootout. We've not had much luck in shootouts here so to have two freshmen step up that was, I guess, the highlight. I know Vermont was a little shorthanded tonight and I thought the game was completely inexcusable."
UMass' first of the night came while the team was on a penalty kill as freshman Michael Cameron forced a turnover in the neutral zone and carried the puck into the UVM zone to fire a shot over the left shoulder of netminder Oskar Autio at the 2:39 mark in the opening period.
The Minutemen doubled their lead 9:55 into the first when freshman Cole O'Hara picked the puck up from senior Matt Koopman and flipped it over the net and into the slot for freshman Kenny Connors who backhanded it home.
Midway through the second, senior Eric Faith helped spring his linemates Reed Lebster and Cal Kiefiuk on the rush and Lebster hit the trailer Kiefiuk with a no-look drop pass for the finish at the 11:19 mark for the lone goal of the second period.
Vermont trimmed its deficit to two just 1:55 into the third period. Finn Evans sent a shot towards the UMass net that made its way through goaltender Luke Pavicich and trickled over the goal line with Dawson Good and Philip Tornqvist picking up the assists. Massimo Lombardi then brought the Catamounts to within one moments later at 3:37 with his unassisted tally from the slot, sliding the puck under Pavicich.
UVM tied the score at 3-3 at the 16:02 mark when Lombardi won a race to the puck along the boards and found Jens Richards streaking into the zone for the finish. Eric Gotz earned the secondary helper.
After a scoreless overtime, both teams converted their initial shootout attempts and missed in round two. In round three, Pavicich denied Lombardi's chance before O'Hara sealed the win for the Minutemen.
Massachusetts and Vermont finished level in shots, 31-31. The Minutemen were 0-for-3 on the power play and 7-for-7 on the penalty kill. Pavicich and Autio recorded 28 saves apiece.
