Three-Goal First Period Sends Massachusetts Past Merrimack, 3-1
Freshman defenseman Shane Bear scores power-play goal for Minutemen

Freshman defenseman Shane Bear scored a power-play goal for the Minutemen
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
1st 4:01  UMA1-0 EV Anthony Petrella (2)William Lagesson/2, Griff Jeszka/3
1st 9:38  UMA2-0 PP GW Shane Bear (2)Austin Plevy/4, Steven Iacobellis/2
1st 11:56  UMA3-0 EV Jonny Lazarus (3) -
2nd 1:24  MER1-3 EV Derek Petti (1)Chris LeBlanc/1, Alex Carle/4
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Massachusetts  3003
Merrimack  0101
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
Massachusetts  118120
Merrimack  13111741
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Massachusetts (3-4-1)  1/5 7/14 0
Merrimack (4-5-2)  0/5 7/14 0
Massachusetts Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Nic Renyard (W, 1-3-0)60:001 13101740
Merrimack Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Drew Vogler (L, 4-4-2)57:253 88117
Empty Net2:350     

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The Merrimack College men's ice hockey team surrendered three goals in an eight-minute span in the first period and never recovered, as visiting UMass handed the Warriors a 3-1 setback on Friday night at Lawler Rink.

The Basics

Score: Massachusetts 3, Merrimack 1
Records: Merrimack (4-5-2, 0-2-2 HEA) | Massachusetts (3-4-1, 1-2-1 HEA)
Location: Lawler Rink | North Andover, Mass.
Attendance: 2549
Game Duration: 2:15

How It Happened

- UMass hopped in front with three goals in a seven-minute span in the first period. William Lagesson started the barrage just over four minutes into the game for his second of the season before his defensive partner, Shane Bear, did likewise while on the power play at the 9:38 mark.

- A giveaway helped secure UMass' third marker of the first period, as rookie Jonny Lazarus registered his third career goal at 11:56 to push the visitors in front, 3-0.

- The Warriors got on the board early in the second after sophomore Derek Petti (Tewksbury, Mass.) tickled the twine for the first time this season at 1:24 off a breakout play to cut the deficit to 3-1.

- That, however, was the only puck that UMass goaltender Nic Renyard would surrender; the sophomore went on to post 10 stops in the middle stanza and denied all 17 shots he saw in the third frame to finish with 40 saves on the night.

- Merrimack had three power plays in the third and had the net empty while opting for the extra attacker over most of the final two minutes of regulation but could not solve Renyard before the horn sounded.

Notes & Notables

- Merrimack had been 9-0-2 over the last 11 games against UMass at home prior to tonight. Its last loss was on March 8, 2008 (4-2).

- Merrimack tied its season-high with 41 shots on goal, matching its previous high-water mark set two games ago against Mercyhurst on Nov. 4 at home.

- The loss was also just Merrimack's second at home this season and first since the season opener, as the Warriors move to 4-2-1 at Lawler Rink this year.

Goal Descriptions

- UM #1 (Petrella/Lagesson/Jeszka) | P1 4:01 - Lagesson throws the puck on net from the right point and gets it to redirect off Anthony Petrella and through an opening on the right side of the crease.

- UM #2 (Bear/Plevy/Iacobellis) | P1 9:38 (PP) - UMass wins an offensive zone faceoff while skating with a 4-on-3 power play and cycles the puck down low before a behind-the-net feed from Austin Plevy connects with Shane Bear, who one-times it home from the right circle.

- UM #3 (Lazarus) | P3 11:56 - Giveaway at the Merrimack blue line leads to a 1-on-1 chance for Jonny Lazarus, who scores over the glove from the right circle.

- MC #1 (Petti/LeBlanc/Biega) | P2 1:24 - On a breakout, Chris LeBlanc plays an outlet pass diagnaolly from right to left to Derek Petti, who drives hard to the net and scores from the bottom of the left wing circle.

MERRIMACK LINEUP

Hennig | Gustafsson | Irvine
Seney | A. Larsson | Tibbet
Petti | Babcock | LeBlanc
Tavernier | Kramer | Foget

Biega | Carle
Kolquist | Kovacevic
Spaxman| Lashyn

Vogler
Pantano

Game Leaders (MC // UMass)

Points: Three tied (1) // Six tied (1)
Goals: Derek Petti (1) // Three tied (1)
Assists: Chris LeBlanc/Alex Carle (1) // Four tied (1)
Shots: Derek Petti (5) // Four tied (3)
Faceoffs Won: Hampus Gustafsson (10) // Steven Iacobellis (12)
Saves: Drew Vogler (17-for-30) // Nic Renyard (40-for-41)

Facts and Figures (MC // UMass)

Power Plays: 0-5 // 1-5
Penalties: 7 Penalties - 14 Minutes // 7 Penalties - 14 Minutes
Faceoffs: 38 // 32
SOG: 13-11 // 11-8 // 17-1 // 41-20

Up Next

Merrimack will have a one-day respite before concluding its season series at New Hampshire on Sunday afternoon. Puck drop from the Whittemore Center is set for 4 p.m.