Lowell, Mass. - Scott Campbell (Navan, Ont.) had a goal and an assist, including the game-winning goal in overtime as No. 13 UMass Lowell defeated Providence, 3-2, Saturday afternoon in Hockey East action at the Tsongas Arena.
The River Hawks improve to 10-5-4 overall and 5-5-4 in league play. UML has won eight of its last 10 games. The Friars fall to 8-8-2 overall and 5-4-2 in Hockey East.
In addition to Campbell, Mike Potacco (Kinnelon, N.J.) and Kory Falite (Billerica, Mass.) scored for the River Hawks. Ian O'Connor (Londonderry, N.H.) and Nick Mazzonini (Anchorage, Alaska) scored for the Friars.
Two of UML's goals came at the end of periods. Falite netted his seventh of the season at 19:59 of the second period when the puck deflected off his body as time expired. Campbell's game-winning goal came with just 1.3 seconds (4:58) on the clock in overtime.
Potacco opened the scoring in the hockey game with his sixth of the season at 4:41 of the first. Campbell had the only assist on the goal, leading to his second consecutive multi-point game.
After Potacco's goal Providence scored two unanswered goals beginning with O'Connor's goal at 7:03 of the first period. Jon Rheault (Deering, N.H.) and Joe Lavin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) had the assists.
Mazzolini gave Providence the lead at 8:21 of the second period with an assist from Kyle Laughlin (Gambrills, Md.).
The score remained 2-1 PC until the closing seconds of the second when Falite scored at 19:59. Patrick Cey (Saskatoon, Sask.), who took the initial shot, and Jeremy Dehner (Madison, Wis.) had the assists.
Campbell's OT tally extended his point streak to three games, and was his second straight two-point night. Mark Roebothan (St. John's, Nfld.) had the primary assist to extend his point streak to nine games. He has 13 points (7 goals, 5 assists) during the streak. Potacco had the secondary assist.
Nevin Hamilton (Ashland, Mass.) stopped a career-high 45 shots to pick up his sixth victory of the season. The sophomore goaltender made 17 saves in the third period.
Tyler Sims (Fort Wayne, Ind.) stopped 27 UML shots, but took the loss for Providence.
The Friars out-shot the River Hawks 47 to 30 for the game.
Six of the last 11 meetings between Providence and UMass Lowell, including four in a row, have gone to overtime. Two consecutive meetings at the Tsongas Arena have gone to the extra session (a 3-2 PC win on January 13, 2007).
The game also marked the first time in UMass Lowell history where no penalties were called, as referee Tim Benedetto didn't whistle either team for an infraction.
"We've been through enough games where we thought we had the game won," said UML head coach Blaise MacDonald in referring to the two late period goals. "At Providence, the first game, we had an open net with four seconds left and fanned on it. Sometimes you get a little puck luck to go your way in the form of redemption. We hung in there. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective."
The River Hawks return to the ice Friday night to host Boston College. The game will be broadcast on the New England Sports Network (NESN) and begin at 7:30 p.m. The Friars are next in action Friday night to host Massachusetts.