UMass Lowell Topples Vermont, 4-1, In Hockey East Semifinals
River Hawks seeking third straight Hockey East Tournament title

Freshman forward Michael Louria's goal held up as the game-winner for the River Hawks
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
1st 11:42  VER1-0 EV Kevin Irwin (8)Jonathan Turk/9
1st 12:18  UML1-1 PP Michael Kapla (6)Dylan Zink/15, Adam Chapie/18
2nd 16:10  UML2-1 EV GW Michael Louria (5)Michael Fallon/8, Jake Suter/11
3rd 8:46  UML3-1 EV Terrence Wallin (4)Michael Colantone/7
3rd 18:36  UML4-1 EV EN Joe Gambardella (13) -
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Vermont  1001
UMass Lowell  1124
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
Vermont  1181231
UMass Lowell  7121736
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Vermont (22-15-4)  0/3 5/10 0
UMass Lowell (21-11-6)  1/4 4/8 0
Vermont Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Brody Hoffman (L, 13-6-2)58:453 6111532
Empty Net1:151     
UMass Lowell Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Kevin Boyle (W, 18-8-6)60:001 1081230

BOSTON, Mass. - The UMass Lowell River Hawks advanced to the 31st Hockey East Tournament championship game with a 4-1 victory over the University of Vermont Catamounts ton​ight at the TD Garden. The River Hawks advance to the championship game for the fifth time in program history and will play the winner of the University of New Hampshire Wildcats and the Boston University Terriers Saturday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m.

The Catamounts opened the scoring with a goal off the stick of freshman forward Kevin Irwin at 1:42 of the first period. Junior forward Jonathan Turk gained the River Hawks zone on the left wing before centering to Irwin who tipped it passed UML netminder Kevin Boyle for the early lead.

The River Hawks tied the game with a five-on-three goal off the stick of sophomore defenseman Michael Kapla at 12:18 of the opening frame. With possession just inside the Catamounts zone, sophomore defenseman Dylan Zink played the puck to the right point to Kapla. The blueliner took a slap shot that fended through traffic and beat Catamounts goaltender Brody Hoffman.

Freshman forward Michael Louria gave the River Hawks the lead for good with a wrist shot at 16:10 of the second period. Senior defenseman Jake Suter began the play taking the puck out of their zone on the left wing side where he played it to junior forward Michael Fallon at center ice. Fallon pivoted and led Louria into the Catamount zone with speed on the right wing. Fallon skated along the boards before moving into the right wing circle where he fired a wrist shot beating Hoffman for the eventual game-winning tally and his first career collegiate post-season goal.

The River Hawks opened up a two goal lead at 8:46 of the third period with a goal by senior forward Terrence Wallin. With possession behind the Catamount goal, Wallin battled along the boards and chipped the puck a few feet to junior forward Michael Colantone. Wallin wandered out to the slot without the puck, and Colantone threaded a pass to a waiting Wallin who rifled a wrist shot high over the shoulder on the glove side for the goal.

The River Hawks tallied an empty net goal to increase their lead to 4-1 with a strike from center ice by sophomore forward Joe Gambardella. The forward's goal was unassisted and occurred at 18:36 of the third period.

Game notes: The River Hawks advance to the Hockey East Tournament Championship Game for the 5th time in their history...The River Hawks own a record of 5-0 at the TD Garden in the Hockey East Tournament under current head coach Norm Bazin (2011-current) and have outscored their opponents 15-2 in those games...The Catamounts are now 1-2 in The Hockey East Tournament semi-finals in their history...The River Hawks look to become only the second team to win three consecutive Hockey East Tournament Championships (Boston College 2010-2012).