LOWELL, Mass. (Nov. 14, 2008) - Kory Falite (Billerica, Mass.) scored his first career hat trick and Matt Ferreira (Brampton, Ont.) scored the first two goals of his career as UMass Lowell defeated No. 6 New Hampshire, 8-3, Friday night in Hockey East action at the Tsongas Arena.
The River Hawks improve to 4-4-0 overall and 2-2-0 in Hockey East with the win. The Wildcats are winless in their last three games and fall to 4-3-3 overall and 2-1-2 in league play with the loss.
Falite led all scorers in the game with four points and was one of five players in the game with multiple points. Falite had three goals for his first career hat trick and added an assist. Ferreira scored his first two career goals, including a shorthanded tally in the third period.
Jeremy Dehner (Madison, Wis.), Maury Edwards (Rocky Rapids, Alta.) and Ben Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, Colo.) also had multi-point games for the River Hawks. Edwards and Holmstrom each had three assists. Dehner had a two-assist night.
Danny Dries (Lake Orion, Mich.) had two goals for New Hampshire. Dries scored the first of his two on the night just 2:02 into the first period. That was the only time UML trailed in the contest.
Sammy D'Agostino (Medford, Mass.) scored the equalizer just 22 seconds later, his first career tally. Edwards and Ryan Blair (Ashburn, Va.) picked up the assists.
Ferreira and Mike Potacco (Kinnelon, N.J.) each scored before the first period ended to give UML a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes of play. Nick Schaus (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Falite assisted on Ferreira's marker. Mark Roebothan (St. John's, Nfld.) and Scott Campbell (Navan, Ont.) had the assists on Potacco's strike.
Falite scored two of the next three goals in the game, one at even strength and one on the power play, and by the midway point of the second period the River Hawks led 5-2.
Dries netted the second of his two goals on the night, a power play goal, at 15:00 of the second period.
The River Hawks iced the game in the third period with three unanswered goals. Ferreira scored shorthanded at 4:46 from Nick Monroe (Groton, Mass.) and Dehner. Falite completed the hat trick with his second power play goal of the contest at 14:09. Holmstrom and Edwards assisted on the Falite hat trick goal.
Patrick Cey (Saskatoon, Sask.) capped the scoring in the game at 15:52 of the third. Dehner and Holmstrom picked up the assists.
Nevin Hamilton (Ashland, Mass.), making his second straight start in goal, earned the win. He made 38 saves and allowed just three goals.
Matt DiGirolamo (Penilyn, Pa.) got the loss for UNH in his second career start. DiGirolamo made 27 saves but allowed eight goals.
The Wildcats out-shot the River Hawks 41 to 35, including a 12-9 edge in the third period. UML was 2-for-5 on the power play. UNH was 1-for-6 on the man-advantage.
The River Hawks return to the ice Saturday night when they visit No. 20 Massachusetts. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Mullins Center. The Wildcats are next in action Saturday at Boston College.
Game Notes:
The eight goals is the most scored by a River Hawk team since they shutout Bentley, 8-0, on November 27, 2004, a stretch of 142 games ... The eight goals are the most for a UML team against a Hockey East foe since defeating Boston College, 8-4, on January 12, 2002 ... Falite's hat trick is the first by a River Hawk this year and the first by UML since Potacco netted three against Northeastern on February 29, 2008. That game was also the last time a River Hawk scored a shorthanded goal - Potacco - before Ferreira scored with a man down Friday night.