The Takeaway: Lowell Explodes for Six, Beats Vermont
Saturday, February 4th, 2012LOWELL, Mass. — UMass-Lowell exploded for six goals Saturday night as they beat Vermont 6-4 in a game that decided the season series. The River Hawks took a 2-0 lead just six minutes in when Chad Ruhwedel and Terrence Wallin scored 56 seconds apart. After Sebastian Stalberg (2g) scored later in the first, Scott Wilson (1g, 2a) restored the two-goal lead for Lowell (18-7-0, 13-6-0 HE) just 1:12 later.
Kyle Reynolds (1g, 3a) cut the deficit to one for Vermont (5-21-1, 2-17-1 HE) late in the first, but Derek Arnold and Colin Wright scored in the second to give the River Hawks a three-goal cushion entering the third. The Catamounts staged a late comeback and cut the lead to 5-4 with 49 seconds remaining, but then Josh Holmstrom (1g, 1a) sealed the win with an empty-netter.
What I saw
-Vermont starter Alex Vazzano got pulled six minutes into the game after giving up two goals on five shots. There wasn’t a whole lot he could’ve done on the first goal, as Ruhwedel had time to walk in from the point and snipe the top right corner. The second, however, was one he’d like to have back. Wallin took a slap shot from about three feet outside the blue line and it sailed right past Vazzano’s blocker. Rob Madore played well for a few minutes off the bench, but wound up surrendering three goals on 23 shots.
-Lowell showed some good resolve early in the second after having a goal waved off. Sometimes having a goal taken back can deflate a team, but the River Hawks didn’t slow down at all and wound up scoring just 28 seconds after the review. After Rob Madore stopped Riley Wetmore’s (2a) initial shot, Arnold found the rebound in the crease and banged it home to give the River Hawks a 4-2 lead. (more…)