PROVIDENCE, R.I. - No. 12 Massachusetts hockey scored four times in the third period to pull away from No. 7/8 Providence at Schneider Arena on Saturday night, completing the weekend sweep of the Friars with a 5-1 victory. The win, the 100th of head coach Greg Carvel's UMass career, moves the Minutemen to 6-2-0 overall and 4-0-0 in Hockey East, while Providence falls to 6-5-0, 3-3-0 in league action.
"This was going to be a big test for us to see where we stood and I thought the team performed admirably," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "Defensively we played very well, special teams played very well and I think the team is starting to figure out its identity and starting to get some momentum. The new players are starting to add more to what we have. It's great to see that things are coming together."
UMass opened the scoring just 2:21 into the contest when junior Cal Kiefiuk's quick snapshot off a faceoff win from senior Anthony Del Gaizo found its way past Jaxson Stauber to give the Minutemen an early advantage.
After a scoreless second, senior Slava Demin doubled the UMass lead 1:16 into the third, streaking down the slot to bury a feed from junior Reed Lebster and Kiefiuk for his first tally as a Minuteman.
The Friars took one back at the 3:37 mark with Cody Monds lifting the puck over graduate student Matt Murray from Brett Berard and Michael Callahan, making it a one-goal game once more.
However, UMass responded with a Lebster one-timer with Del Gaizo and Kiefiuk 6:07 into the third to bring the score to 3-1.
Freshman Scott Morrow added his third goal in the past three games on the power play at 12:25 from freshman Ryan Ufko and senior Bobby Trivigno. Trivigno then capped the scoring with a one-timer from Ufko and Morrow 13:06 into the period.
Providence out-shot the Minutemen, 42-29, while UMass went 2-for-4 on the power play and were a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
Kiefiuk led the way for UMass with three points on a goal and two assists, a new career high. Ufko (2a), Del Gaizo (2a), Lebster (1g, 1a) and Morrow (1g, 1a) all contributed two points apiece.
Murray finished with a career high 41 saves for the Minutemen and Stauber posted 21 stops for the Friars.
UMass will be back in action next Friday, Nov. 12, when the squad will travel to Boston University for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop against the Terriers.
