LOWELL, Mass. (Dec. 8, 2007) - Mike Potacco (Kinnelon, N.J.) scored two goals and UMass Lowell defeated Bentley, 4-1, in non-conference college hockey action Saturday afternoon at the Tsongas Arena.
The River Hawks have won three straight, five of six, and improve to 7-4-4 on the season. UML is 6-1-1 at home this season. The Falcons fall to 5-11-2 on the year with the loss. Bentley has dropped two straight and is winless in its last five contests (0-4-1).
The Falcons scored the game's first goal and held a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. Tom Dickhudt (Woodbury, Minn.) netted the goal, his third of the season at the 6:16 mark of the first, with assists from Jay Bletzer (Medfield, Mass.) and Jeremy Robert (Maplewood, Minn.).
The River Hawks scored the next four goals of the hockey game for the 4-1 win. Jonathan Maniff (Revere, Mass.) scored UML's first of the night on a four-on-three power play. Maury Edwards (Rocky Rapids, Alb.) and Jeremy Dehner (Madison, Wis.) had the assists.
Barry Goers gave UML a 2-1 lead at the 19:59 mark of the second from Maniff and Chris Auger (Belleville, Ont.).
Potacco scored the River Hawks' next two goals, his fourth and fifth of the year. He scored his first of the night at 3:47 of the third period from fellow junior Mark Roebothan (St. John’s, Nfld.).
Potacco scored his second of the night at 18:47 of the third into an empty net. Roebothan had the primary assist. Scott Campbell (Navan, Ont.) had the secondary assist on the goal.
Jon Dryjowicz-Burek (Ludlow, Mass.) earned his first career win, in his first career start. Dryjowicz-Burek made 20 saves for the River Hawks.
Joe Calvi (New Lenox, Ill.) made 35 saves for Bentley, but took the loss.
The River Hawks out-shot Bentley 39 to 21. UML was 1-for-3 on the power play. Bentley was 0-for-5 on the man-advantage.
"I thought Bentley was a real good opponent for us," said UML head coach Blaise MacDonald. "They had good team speed and their goaltender was exceptional. We played well. We moved our feet and got pucks in deep. We generated a lot of chances and I was hoping we would convert a little more."
The River Hawks are off until December 28 for the first game of the Florida College Classic in Estero, Florida. UML plays Cornell at 4:00 p.m. at Germain Arena. Bentley doesn’t play again until January 4 at Canisius.