Courtesy Vermont Sports Information
BURLINGTON – Kevin Boyle posted a 32-save shutout and No. 4 UMass Lowell registered a 1-0 victory over Vermont on Saturday night to sweep a Hockey East series at Gutterson Fieldhouse. The Catamounts fell to 2-6-1 (1-2-1 HEA), while the River Hawks improved to 6-1-2 (2-0-2 HEA).
“Our team was as consistent as we have been all weekend. I thought it was the first time we played 120 minutes to our identity,” said head coach Kevin Sneddon. “It’s a game of inches. It’s unfortunate. We hit a couple pipes, they take an off-angle shot that kind of takes a bad bounce and it’s in the back of our net on the power play and that’s difference in the game.”
Vermont nearly struck first in the opening period as Brian Bowen tipped Jake Kearley’s left point shot past Boyle blocker side but the puck rung off the left post.
The game’s only tally came at the 14:22 mark of the first after Mike Santaguida stopped an Adam Chapie weak angle shot from the low left circle. The rebound bounced into the low slot, and Chapie followed up to whack a shot into the back of the net to give UMass Lowell the lead.
Boyle made it stand the rest of the way as the senior stopped all 20 shots he faced in the final two periods. That included a 2-on-1 blocker save on a wrister from Craig Puffer during the second period.
UVM pulled Santaguida with 1:15 remaining for a 5-on-4 advantage with a man in the penalty box for each team, but the River Hawks cleared their zone effectively and clinched the series sweep.
Santaguida closed the night with 20 saves and just one goal against. The Catamounts were 5-for-6 on the penalty kill.
Vermont closes a five-game homestand next weekend with Hockey East contests against UConn on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:05 p.m. and UMass Amherst on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. Both games will be streamed for free in high definition at CatamounTV.com with radio coverage on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com.
UVM will host a Supercuts water bottle giveaway on Friday, and a post-game Skate with the Cats after Sunday’s game. Sunday will also be Jack Lyman Day as the team honors Jack Lyman, who joined the team in 2012 from the Team IMPACT organization.