MASSACHUSETTS NOTCHES 4-2 WIN OVER NORTHEASTERN
Four different players tally goals for Minutemen

Sophomore forward Branden Gracel had a power-play goal for the Minutemen

AMHERST, Mass. - Sophomore Branden Gracel's third period goal gave UMass a 4-2 victory over Northeastern at the Mullins Center on Saturday night, extending the team's longest win streak of the season to three games. The Minutemen level their record on the year at 4-4-2, while moving to 2-4-2 in Hockey East, while the Huskies fall to 1-7-2 both overall and in the conference.

The Minutemen struck first as Carzo stuffed in a Colin Shea rebound at 3:58 to put UMass on the board. Steven Guzzo's cross-ice pass set up Shea's shot from the point, giving him his third assist of the year and second of the weekend.

Exactly six minutes later, Northeastern managed to capitalize on one of its three power plays in the period. Justin Daniels and Ludwig Karlsson set up Anthony Bitetto's slapper that found its way past UMass netminder Kevin Boyle.

Despite several quality opportunities for the Minutemen in the second, the score remained deadlocked at 1-1 until the closing moments. The Huskies successfully killed off its first two penalties of the frame, which included a 19-second two-man advantage for UMass.

Northeastern added its second power play goal of the night 16:02 into the second as Steve Quailer set up Karlsson with the go-ahead tally.

The lead was brief, however, as the Mass Attack promptly responded by converting with a man advantage, as well. Syner sent the puck down the boards to Pereira, who passed it out to the point for Adam Phillips. Phillips ripped a shot that deflected off the shin of a diving NU player and came right to Pereira, who drove it home into the open net at 18:47.

Conor Sheary set up a Gracel goal with a pass from the right side to the center with 5:56 left in the third period. Gracel was able to send it in to give UMass the lead, and ultimately the win.

Syner then sealed the victory with an empty net goal at 18:56.

UMass out-shot Northeastern, 43-35 and won 30 of 58 faceoffs. The Huskies converted two of four power play chances, while the Minutemen were 2-for-5. Boyle totaled 33 saves for the Minutemen and Chris Rawlings stopped 39 for the Huskies.

The Mass Attack returns to action at the Mullins Center on Friday night, Nov. 18, when the squad will take on Maine at 7 p.m.