Courtesy Vermont Sports Information
LOWELL, MA. – Six goals from six different players and a 21-save shutout by Christoffer Hernberg led UMass Lowell past Vermont on Friday night in Hockey East action at Tsongas Center.
The loss drops UVM to 4-13-3 (1-7-2 HEA) on the season, while the River Hawks improve to 11-9-0 (7-6-0 HEA). The two schools meet again in Burlington for a two-game set on Jan. 19-20.
The River Hawks opened the scoring before the midway point of the first period on Niklas Folin’s first collegiate goal. Ryan Collins wheeled around the net and found the junior defenseman, who rifled a shot through the five-hole of Stefanos Lekkas (7 saves).
Charlie Levesque added to the UMass Lowell lead just over a minute later as he poked a loose puck in the crease across the goal line. Connor Sodergren sent a pass to Ryan Dmowski, who fired a shot over Lekkas’ shoulder off the cross bar, leaving the puck for Levesque in the crease.
UMass Lowell collected one more heading into the first intermission on a breakaway goal by John Edwardh. Anthony Baxter wired a pass up the seam to Edwardh, who snuck behind the Catamounts’ defense and flipped a shot into the upper right corner.
The River Hawks struck just 59 seconds into the second period on a goal by Connor Sodergren as he tipped in a pass from Dmowski at the left doorstep during a 2-on-1. Connor Wilson followed with a power play goal, converting a rebound at 9:53 of the second period.
Chris Forney’s one-timer through traffic in the third period capped the scoring. Tyler Harmonplayed the second half of the game in relief of Lekkas and made 11 saves.
Vermont returns to action next Friday (Jan. 12) and Saturday (Jan. 13) for a two-game series against the UMass Minutemen at Gutterson Fieldhouse. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. both nights, and tickets are available by logging on to UVMathletics.com/Tickets.