PROVIDENCE DEFEATS MASSACHUSETTS, 3-1
Kyle Laughlin posts goal and assts for Friars

Game action from the PC-UMass game on October 26

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence College men's ice hockey team (1-4-0, 1-1-0 HOCKEY EAST) earned its first win of the season as it knocked off Massachusetts (2-2-1, 0-1-1) by the score of 3-1 in HOCKEY EAST action at Schneider Arena on Friday evening. PC junior Kyle Laughlin (Gambrills, Md.) notched a goal and an assist in the win.

PC had the first offensive opportunity of the game following a UMass penalty three minutes into the contest. The Friars capitalized as sophomore Greg Collins (Hingham, Mass.) slipped one through the right side of UMass freshman goalie Paul Dainton at 4:17 of the first period. Senior Jon Rheault (Deering, N.H.) and Laughlin picked up assists on the play.

Just before the end of the first period, a five minute major and a game misconduct was called against the Minutemen. With 2:03 left in the period, UMass also was whistled for a two-minute minor penalty giving the Friars a 5-on-3 advantage. PC was unable to score but held a 1-0 lead at the first intermission. The Friars outshot UMass 15-3 in the period.

Providence extended its lead to 2-0 with a score in the opening 30 seconds of the third period. Laughlin netted his team-leading fourth goal of the season. Classmate Nick Mazzolini (Anchorage, Alaska) picked up an assist on the play, his first point of the season. UMass answered right back with a goal 16 seconds later as senior Matt Burto put home a feed from junior Jordan Virtue to cut the lead in half with 19:19 left in the contest.

The Friars put things away with 2:07 left in the game as junior John Mori (Westport, Conn.) fired a shot from point-blank range into the back of the net. It was a power-play goal that saw sophomore John Cavanagh (Warwick, R.I.) and Mazzolini pick up assists. It also marked Mori's first career tally.

Junior goalie Chris Mannix (Hubbardston, Mass.) earned the win as he stopped 20 of 21 shots he faced. Freshman Paul Dainton made 32 saves to the Minutemen.

PC returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 27 at UMass as the teams play the back half of a home-and-home in Amherst, Mass. Face off is set for 7:00 p.m.