MASTALERZ AND SYNER LEAD MASSACHUSETTS PAST BOSTON COLLEGE, 4-0
Freshman goaltender Steve Mastalerz earns first career shutout with 35 saves for Minutemen

Senior forward T.J. Syner scored two goals for the Minutemen

AMHERST, Mass. - Freshman Steve Mastalerz made 35 saves and recorded his first career shutout, backstopping the UMass hockey team to a 4-0 win over #4 Boston College on Friday night at the Mullins Center. With the victory, the Minutemen's second straight over the Eagles (13-8-1, 9-5-1 HEA) and first ever via shutout, the squad moves to 8-8-5 on the season and 4-6-4 in Hockey East and remains undefeated at home this season with a mark of 6-0-3.

Senior T.J. Syner scored twice for the Mass Attack, his first multi-goal game of the season. Sophomore Conor Allen notched a goal and an assist for a multi-point night, while Mastalerz became the first Minuteman netminder to notch an assist since Jon Quick vs. Northeastern on Nov. 18, 2006.

Both teams had quality scoring opportunities in the first period, but neither could find the back of the net. Mastalerz turned aside a shot by Danny Lindell at the doorstep, while Brian Billett stopped Syner on a partial breakaway midway through the period.

Then at the 6:18 mark in the second, Conor Allen broke up the scoreless deadlock as he snapped a wrister from the right faceoff circle off an outlet pass from Mastalerz.

The Mass Attack made it a 2-0 margin at 9:17 when sophomore Peter DeAngelo scored shorthanded on a two-on-one after collecting a pass from Allen and senior Danny Hobbs, UMass' first man-down tally since Feb. 13, 2009, against Northeastern.

Just 41 seconds later, another Eagles' turnover at the blueline in the UMass zone led to another odd-man rush for the Minutemen and the team's third goal of the night. Syner scored his 10th of the season from sophomore Joel Hanley and junior Kevin Czepiel, chasing Billett from the BC net.

Syner later notched his second of the evening at the 9:30 mark of the third period, burying a rebound from close range from sophomores Conor Sheary and Branden Gracel.

Billett had 10 saves for the Eagles, while Chris Venti played the final 30:02 and stopped five shots while allowing one goal.

UMass will be back in action next Friday at home vs. Vermont, on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.