PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Scott Conway scored a goal with 2:56 remaining to lift the No. 10/11 Providence College men's hockey team over the second-ranked University of Massachusetts, 3-2, on Saturday, Feb. 23 at a sold out Schneider Arena. Nine different players recorded a point for the Friars on Saturday night.
SCORE
No. 10/11 Providence - 3 | No. 2/2 UMass - 2
RECORDS
Providence - 19-9-5 (12-7-2 HEA) | UMass - 24-7-0 (16-5-0 HEA)
VENUE
Schneider Arena - Providence, R.I.
GOALIES
Hayden Hawkey (PC) - 34 saves
Matt Murray (UM) - 27 saves
NOTES
- The Minutemen entered the scoring column first with 9:56 remaining in the first period. Cale Maker stole the puck on UMass' blue line before having a one-on-one breakaway with Hayden Hawkey. Maker went to his backhand across the crease and flicked it over Hawkey's stick side.
- Mario Ferraro was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for hitting from behind at 13:17 of the first period, but Providence couldn't capitalize on the power play.
- Jason O'Neill netted the equalizer 6:10 into the middle stanza. O'Neill received a pass at the top of the far circle that he finished with a wrist shot over Murray's glove. The goal marked O'Neill's fourth on the season.
- The Friars wasted no time to take the lead as Josh Wilkins scored just 2:21 later to give Providence a 2-1 lead. Davis Bunz delivered a cross-ice pass to Wilkins that he powered home before Murray could recover. Wilkins' goal was his 10th of the season and 38th of his career.
- Niko Hildenbrand brought the game to its second tie, 2-2, with 5:53 left in the second period. Felix put a puck on net from the blue line that rebounded to Hildenbrand between the circles, Hildenbrand kept fired a low wrist shot that snuck through Hawkey's legs.
- The Friars regained the lead 17:04 into the third period. Tyce Thompson grabbed the puck that was tied up on the boards before passing to Conway skating to the front of the net. Conway one-timed it home through Murray.
- Neither team could capitalize on their extra man advantage, the teams combined to go 0-9 on the powerplay. Providence had five opportunities opposed to UMass' four.
- The Minutemen outshot Providence, 36-30.
- Hawkey stopped 34-of-36 shots for his 67th career win.
- Wilkins has now tallied three-consecutive seasons of 30-plus points and becomes the first Friar to accomplish that feat since Devin Rask and Peter Fregoe in 2002-03.
- Providence snaps a three-game losing streak to the Minutemen. All three games between the teams this season have ended as 3-2 outcomes.
- The Friars improved to 6-4-2 against ranked opponents this season.
HOW THEY SCORED
1-0 (UM) - 11:04/1st - EV - Cale Makar - Stole the puck at UMass' blue line for a one-on-one
breakaway with Hawkey. Makar went to the backhand and beat Hawkey under the crossbar.
1-1 (PC) - 6:10/2nd - EV - Jason O'Neill (Printz, Tait) - Printz dumped the puck to O'Neill on a three-on-two advantage that O'Neill one-timed home over Murray's glove.
2-1 (PC) - 8:31/2nd - EV - Josh Wilkins (Bunz, Mirageas) - Cross ice pass from Bunz to O'Neill who slotted home a wrist shot before Murray could recover to the weak side.
2-2 (UM) - 14:07/2nd - EV - Niko Hildenbrand (Felix, Keats) - Slapshot rebounded to Hildenbrand between the two circles where he hit a low wrist shot between Hawkey's legs while he was screened.
3-2 (PC) - 17:04/3rd - EV - Scott Conway (Thompson, Duhaime) - Conway skated to the front of the net where he received a pass from Thompson behind the net that he squeezed through Murray's body.
PC GAME HIGHS
Goals: Conway, O'Neill, Wilkins (1)
Assists: Six players (1)
Points: Nine players (1)
Shots: Wilkins (5)
POWER PLAYS
Providence - 0/5
UMass - 0/4
SHOTS
Providence - 30
UMass - 36
UP NEXT
The Friars will travel to Harford, Conn. to take on the Connecticut Huskies at the XL Center on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 7:05 p.m.
