Freshman D Christian Folin (Gothenburg, Sweden), senior Riley Wetmore (Swanton, Vt.) and junior Derek Arnold (Foxboro, Mass.) each scored goals in the second period as No. 14/15 UMass Lowell defeated Massachusetts, 3-2, Saturday night in a Hockey East tilt in front of 5,468 at the Tsongas Center.
With the win, UMass Lowell completed the season sweep over the Minutemen and improved to 16-9-2 overall and 10-8-2 in Hockey East. The River Hawks remain in sixth place as Boston University defeated Maine, 5-4 in overtime, to remain in fifth place.
The River Hawks visit Boston University Friday night at 7:00 and host the Terriers Saturday night at 7:05.
Massachusetts slipped to 10-15-2 overall and 7-12-1 in Hockey East.
All five goals were scored in the second period, including four in a furious span of 3:22 midway through. Arnold scored his third goal of the weekend and Wetmore his second while Folin's shorthanded strike capped a four-point weekend.
Freshman G Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce, Mich.) won his eighth straight game with 23 saves to improve to 8-1-0.
Folin broke the drought 6:23 into the period with his first collegiate shorthanded goal. Junior F Shayne Thompson (Stittsville, Ont.) poked away to junior D Joe Houk (Richboro, Pa.), who slid to Folin on a 2 on 1 break. Folin shoveled under sophomore G Steve Mastalerz.
UMass Lowell doubled its lead at 10:06 when sophomore Scott Wilson (Oakville, Ont.) wrapped around the net and crossed to Wetmore, who one-timed home from Mastalerz's right side.
The Minutemen quickly cut the lead in half as junior F Michael Pereira finished the rebound off a shot by junior F Branden Gracel just 38 seconds later.
Arnold scored the proven game-winner only 26 seconds after that when Mastalerz stopped Houk's shot from the left point, but Arnold was there to convert the spoils.
Junior F Conor Sheary brought Massachusetts back within a goal once more when he rifled just over Hellebuyck's right shoulder off a pass from Gracel.
UMass Lowell outshot the Minutemen 32-25. Mastalerz halted 29 shots.