DURHAM, N.H. - Junior Grayson Downing (Abbotsford, British Columbia) scored a power play goal late in the third period to tie the game, but UMass Lowell's Derek Arnold potted the game winner in overtime to lift the 14th-ranked University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks to a 3-2 win over the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team on Saturday night at the Whittemore Center.
Senior forward Kevin Goumas (Long Beach, N.Y.) recorded his 100th career point with an assist on the Wildcats' first goal. Goumas became the 71st player in program history to crack the 100-point plateau and the first to do it since Phil DeSimone accomplished the feat in the 2010-11 season.
At the 3:17 mark of the extra five minute period, Derek Arnold blasted a shot to the top left corner of the net that hit the inside of the post and in. Zack Kamrass placed a pass on the stick of Arnold who fired from just outside the right faceoff circle and in for the power play goal.
With 1:13 remaining in regulation and trailing 2-1, Downing tied the score as the Wildcats pulled Casey DeSmith (Rochester, N.H.) while on a power play for the 6-on-4 advantage. Freshman Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) saucered a pass from the redline to junior Matt Willows (Congers, N.Y.) in front of the net. Willows' initial shot was stopped by Carr, but Downing was on the back door to put it away and level the score. At the end of regulation, the game was tied, 2-2, and sent to overtime.
In a scoreless first period, junior Jay Camper (Rocky River, Ohio) nearly got the Wildcats an early lead at the 2:10 mark of the first period with a quick blast off the faceoff. UML netminder Doug Carr made the glove save to keep the game scoreless. The Wildcats kept the offensive pressure on, taking shot-after-shot, but Carr kept the River Hawks from falling behind. In all, the Wildcats amassed 10 shots in the first period while UML was held to three.
Brett Pesce (Tarrytown, N.Y.) got the Wildcats on the board at the 10:28 mark of the second period with his first goal of the season. The play originated when Goumas fed a pass to Nick Sorkin (Rockville, Md.) right in front of the net. Sorkin took the puck to the right side of Carr behind the net and saw Pesce skating in hard. He dished the puck to Pesce who ripped a shot from the slot and put it past Carr waist high on his blocker side.
The River Hawks leveled the score with 2:26 remaining in the period with a power play goal by Joe Pendenza. Lowell initially had a 5-on-3 advantage, but the 'Cats were able to kill the first penalty. Still on the power play from the second penalty, Zack Kamrass slung the puck to Adam Chapie to the right of Wildcat netminder DeSmith inside the faceoff circle. Chapie kicked the puck over to Pendenza who found the back of the net.
UMass Lowell gained its first lead of the night with 58 seconds remaining as Christian Folin blasted a shot from the slot and into the goal. Zack Kamrass played the puck to Chris Maniccia. Maniccia laced a pass to Folin who in turn put it away for the goal. At the end of the second period, UML had a 2-1 lead.
DeSmith finished the game with 21 saves on 24 shots faced, including 14 in the second period. His record falls to 0-4-0 overall. Carr earned the win for the River Hawks as he made 27 saves on the 29 total attempts faced. His record improves to 2-1-0. The Wildcats were 1-for-5 on power plays while Lowell was 2-for-3 with the advantage.
New Hampshire takes the ice again Friday, Nov. 8, hosting Massachusetts to start a home-and-home series. The game is slated to start at 7:30 p.m. with TV coverage on WBIN-TV and FOX College Sports. For more information on season ticket packages and individual tickets, call (603) 862-4000, extension 5, or click here. For more information on the UNH hockey program, visit www.unhwildcats.com or follow UNH athletics on Twitter (@UNHWildcats).