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Sophomore Ryan Lautenbach posted a goal and two assists for the Minutemen
Massachusetts Skates Past Union, 7-1
Sophomore Ryan Lautenbach posted a goal and two assists for the Minutemen

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass. - No. 6 University of Massachusetts hockey had six different goal scorers and 13 different players record at least one point in the squad's 7-1 victory over Union on Friday night at the Mullins Center. With the win, the Minutemen improve to 3-0-1, while the Dutchmen fall to 2-4-1.

"I got a lot of questions this week about if I was worried about a letdown after last weekend and I wasn't going into tonight," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "I thought the kids practiced really hard all week and I'm impressed with this group. They've been very consistent. Tonight was a really solid 60 minutes other than a little bit of puck mismanagement, I didn't think we gave up a lot. The special teams are outstanding. It's great that we were able to get Henry Graham in there, but that was a really good follow up game after the highs of last weekend. It was a really solid game for the group."

After an early goal by sophomore Ryan Lautenbach was called back, he and classmate Lucas Mercuri set up Taylor Makar for a rebound tap-in at the back post at the 4:37 mark of the first period.

Union managed to tie the score at 1-1, 10:53 into the frame. Bram Scheerer took an outlet pass from Ethan Benz and sent a knuckling shot past sophomore Luke Pavicich.

UMass was quick to respond, though. Freshman Kenny Connors converted a tough-angle shot on the power play from senior Cal Kiefiuk and sophomore Ryan Ufko at the 12:37 mark.

Senior Jerry Harding added another tally in the closing seconds of the first as his shot from the top of the left faceoff circle deflected past Connor Murphy at 19:47. Junior Aaron Bohlinger and senior Eric Faith picked up the helpers on the play.

Midway through the second, freshman Cole O'Hara deposited a pass from senior Reed Lebster on a 2-on-1 into the back of the Union net for his first collegiate goal at 10:06.

Lautenbach tipped home a power-play goal from sophomore Scott Morrow and Connors 8:37 into the third and Connors found the back of the net for a second time on the night with the man advantage at 9:48, set up by Lautenbach and Ufko.

Junior Linden Alger then capped the scoring with a buzzer beater from O'Hara for his first collegiate goal at 19:59.

UMass finished the night with a 39-23 advantage in shots on goal and went 3-for-6 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.

Pavicich made 17 saves over the first 51:59 and Graham turned aside all five shots he faced over 8:01 between the pipes, his first collegiate action.

Four Minutemen logged multiple points in the contest, led by two goals and an assist from Connors and a goal and two assists for Lautenbach. O'Hara contributed a goal and an assist and Ufko had two helpers.

The teams will be back in action tomorrow, October 22, for the second game of the weekend set at 7 p.m. at the Mullins Center.