AMHERST, Mass. - Axel Mangbo made a career-high 38 saves and Isak Walther scored twice as the Catamounts (3-6-3) topped No. 20 UMass (6-6-2) 3-2 Sunday afternoon in Hockey East action from the Mullins Center. With the three league points UVM concludes their league schedule in 2024 in a tie for fourth place.
COACH'S QUOTE
"That was a great road win by our guys," said Head Coach Stephen Wiedler. "Created good scoring chances late in the first and then brought strong defensive intensity to finish it out. Proud of our group picking up another win against a ranked opponent. That was a solid way to end the first half of Hockey East play."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Minutemen opened the scoring 9:11 into the first period off a won offensive zone faceoff. Axel Mangbo made an initial save on a James Duerr shot in the slot, but the rebound came to Nick VanTassell at the side of the net. Mangbo made another stop on VanTassell but the UMass sophomore's second attempt bounced off Mangbo and in.
- Vermont responded 2:31 later with their first shot of the contest. Jens Richards took the puck behind the UMass net and as he cut into the slot, he fired a perfect backdoor pass to Timofei Spitserov who tapped it home for his third goal of the season. UVM's Max Strand earned his team-leading eighth assist on the tally.
- The Catamounts took the lead with 71 seconds to play in the first. Luca Münzenberger played a clearing attempt off the glass to Walther who released into the neutral zone. Walther got possession just before the UMass blueline and skated in alone on UMass' Michael Hrabal. Walther faked a shot and then beat Hrabal to the post with a backhand deke. Will Zapernick earned the secondary assist on the play.
- After a scoreless second frame Mangbo was outstanding between the pipes for UVM in the third period. He made 17 saves down the stretch for Vermont.
- Walther iced the Catamounts win with an empty-net tally with 1:21 to play. Münzenberger and Joel Määttä assisted on the tally.
- Lucas Mercuri did cut the UVM lead back to one with an extra attacker goal with 30 seconds left in regulation, but UMass couldn't find a third goal.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- UVM continued its excellent penalty kill this afternoon, they successfully killed UMass' one opportunity with the man advantage. UVM is now 29-31 shorthanded this season good for 93.5%, the third best kill in the NCAA.
- With his assist this afternoon Max Strand now leads the Catamounts in scoring with nine points.
- UVM is now 4-0-1 in its last five games against UMass, in all five contests the Minutemen have been ranked.
- With tonight's 3-2 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $225 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $75 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.
- With the win, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group will donate $100 to Vermont Children's Trust Foundation as part of the Cats Wins, Community Wins Initiative.
UP NEXT
After Thanksgiving the Catamounts will host undefeated and No. 16 Dartmouth Sunday, December 1 at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Puck drop is slated for 4 p.m. and fans are invited to bring their skates and a helmet for a Postgame Skate with the Cats following the contest.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and on TSN+ in Canada with Rob Ryan and Damian DiGiulian on the call. As always, it will also be broadcast live on WVMT (96.3 FM/620 AM) with the voice of the Catamounts Adam Lafleur in the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth.
