MASSACHUSETTS RALLIES PAST PROVIDENCE, 5-3
Minutemen score final three goals of game

Brian Keane nets game-winner for Minutemen

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Providence (4-2-0, 0-1-0 HEA) took a lead early into the third period but UMass (4-0-0, 3-0-0 HEA) came away with a 5-3 victory at Schneider Arena. Three different players scored for the Friars and sophomore Alex Beaudry (Cumberland, Ontario) recorded 31 saves on the night.

The Friars held a lead just 2:56 into the third but the Minuteman put home three unanswered goals to stay undefeated on the season.

UMass opened the scoring 6:57 into the period with a power-play goal from Casey Wellman. Wellman knocked in a loose puck on the left side of the cage following a Beaudry save. The Friars evened the score with a power-play goal of their own at 17:55. Junior Matt Germain (Rockland, Mass.) sent a pass from the right boards to sophomore Daniel New (White Plains, N.Y.) at the point. New found junior Jordan Kremyr by the right post as he slid home his first goal of the season. Germain and New each earned their third assists of the season on the play.

The Friars nearly took the lead with 40 seconds left when Germain picked up a loose puck in the Friar zone and raced toward the UMass end with a two-on-one. His short-handed attempt rang off the crossbar and the period ended with the score tied, 1-1. Providence went into the locker room with a 13-7 edge in shots.

Providence came out for the second and took the lead at 3:33 with an even-strength goal from senior Greg Collins (Hingham, Mass.). Freshman Alex Velischek (Kinnelon, N.J.) had possession of the puck behind the UMass cage and sent a pass to a streaking Collins in the low slot for his first goal of the season. Freshman Chris Rooney (Canton, Mass.) earned an assist on the goal as well.

The lead wouldn't last as UMass evened the score at 17:11 with another power-play strike. Wellman made a rush up the right boards before firing a low shot that Beaudry kicked away. Matt Irwin picked slid in the loose puck to tie the game, 2-2. The goal was Irwin's fourth of the season.

The period came to a close with 22 shots for each team and the score deadlocked at 2-2.

Providence took its last lead of the night with a power-play goal at 2:56 when Mark Fayne (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) fired home a slap shot from the high slot. Assists went to junior Kyle McKinnon (Walnut, Calif.) and sophomore Matt Bergland (Faribault, Minn.). The Minutemen would close out the game with three straight goals. Martin Nolet netted a power-play goal at 11:00. Brian Keane put home the game winner just 21 seconds later and James Marcou put the game away with an empty-net goal at 19:25.

Providence finished the game with the edge in shots, 38-36, but the Minutemen tallied three goals with the man advantage.

The two teams will face off tomorrow in Amherst, Mass. at 7:00 p.m. for a Halloween showdown.