Thompson Leads UConn Past UMass Lowell, 4-3
Freshman forward Tage Thompson scores two goals for Huskies

Freshman forward Tage Thompson scored two goals for the Huskies
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
1st 11:27  CON1-0 PP Tage Thompson (5)Johnny Austin/6, Joseph Masonius/5
2nd 1:51  UML1-1 EV C.J. Smith (7)Niklas Folin/6, Joe Gambardella/11
2nd 18:08  UML2-1 EV A.J. White (3)Evan Campbell/4, Adam Chapie/9
2nd 18:29  CON2-2 EV Corey Ronan (3)David Drake/2, Spencer Naas/5
2nd 19:41  CON3-2 EV Spencer Naas (4)Corey Ronan/2
3rd 0:47  UML3-3 EV Ryan Collins (1)C.J. Smith/10, Joe Gambardella/12
3rd 12:38  CON4-3 PP GW Tage Thompson (6)Joseph Masonius/6, Maxim Letunov/10
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
UMass Lowell  0213
Connecticut  1214
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
UMass Lowell  6111330
Connecticut  118524
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
UMass Lowell (10-2-4)  0/1 2/4 0
Connecticut (4-10-0)  2/2 1/2 0
UMass Lowell Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Kevin Boyle (L, 10-2-4)56:484 106420
Empty Net3:120     
Connecticut Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Rob Nichols (W, 4-9-0)60:003 691227

STORRS, Conn. - The UConn Huskies got a pair of power play goals from freshman Tage Thompson (Orange, Conn.) on the way to upsetting the No. 5 nationally ranked UMass Lowell River Hawks, 4-3, Saturday afternoon in front of 4,811 fans at the XL Center. The Huskies snap the River Hawks nine-game unbeaten streak and deal them their first Hockey East loss of the season.

UConn improves snaps their season long eight-game losing streak with the win and improves to 4-10-0 overall and 2-7-0 in the league. UML is now 10-2-4 overall and 6-1-3 in Hockey East. The Huskies will look for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon from the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Mass.

Thompson's two-power play goals give the freshman six goals on the season, all coming on via the power play. He enters Sunday's game sharing the lead in the country in power play goals with Andrew Poturalski of New Hampshire and Mike Barrett of Holy Cross.

The Huskies got 11 shots off in the first period and after the first 20 minutes led 1-0. Thompson scored his first of the night at 11:27, coming after a charging call on Ryan Collins. Thompson threw a wrist shot on goal and beat Kevin Boyle who was screened in front.

UMass Lowell struck quickly in the second, as C.J. Smith buried a rebound at 1:51 to tie it at 1-1. The River Hawks made it 2-1 late in the period as A.J. White buried a feed at the far post at 18:08. UConn struck right back just 21 seconds later and then again in the final minute of the period to take the lead back.

Sophomore Corey Ronan (Franklin, Mass.) picked up a pass in the slot and buried a shot through some traffic for his third on the year, knotting it at 2-2. With 19 seconds left in the period, sophomore Spencer Naas (Minnetonka, Minn.) got the puck behind the net, tried for a wrap-around that Boyle shut off but stuck with the play poking home the rebound for a 3-2 lead.

UMass Lowell again used a quick strike to even the game, scoring just 47 seconds into the third. Smith fired on net with Rob Nichols (Dallas, Texas) making a stop but the rebound found the stick of Ryan Collins who put it home for his first on the year.

The Huskies got their second power play chance of the night at 11:58 as Tyler Mueller was whistled for elbowing. Thompson delivered the game-winner, burying a one-time in the top right corner from the left circle off a cross-ice feed from classmate Joseph Masonius (Spring Lake, N.J.).

The River Hawks used at time-out with 3:18 left and pulled Boyle for the extra skater. The Huskies were up to the task as Nichols turned away four shots and UConn blocked five shots, two by senior Patrick Kirtland (Rocky Hill, Conn.) who was without his stick.

Nichols finished the night with 27 saves to her his fourth victory of the season. Boyle made 20 saves for UMass Lowell. The River Hawks finished with a 30-24 edge on shots.

The weekend series finale will start at 1:00 pm Sunday afternoon with the game being televised on the American Sports Network (ASN) and available on both NESN and SNY networks.