The No. 10 UMass hockey team lost to the Vermont Catamounts 2-1 in overtime on Friday night. This was the Minutemen’s second straight loss to the Catamounts in the process. The loss leaves Massachusetts at 9-4-1 on the season and 4-3-1 in Hockey East play.
The two teams combined for 13 penalties on the night, including a major penalty given to junior defenseman Scott Morrow for contact to the head. The penalty was called after the Catamounts used their timeout to challenge the play. The ruling wiped out a goal scored by junior defenseman Ryan Ufko that was scored after the hit by Morrow.
On the subsequent five minute power play, Vermont freshman forward Nick Ahern fired a one-timer past UMass goalie Michael Hrabal, giving the Catamounts a 1-0 lead. The goal was assisted by forwards Massimo Lombardi and Ryan Miotto.
“We scored that goal in the second period and it gets called back, which is a big factor in the game,” UMass Head Coach Greg Carvel said.
Despite the loss, Carvel was pleased with his team’s performance: “I thought we played a pretty strong road game,” he said.
Freshman forward Jack Musa evened the score at the 8:23 mark of the third period. He finished a give and go sequence with freshman forward Dans Locmelis.
The goal was the lone blemish on an otherwise strong performance from Vermont senior goaltender Gabe Carriere, who finished with 32 saves.
The game entered overtime tied at one, with Massachusetts edging Vermont 31-27 in shots.
At the 2:33 mark of the overtime period, Miotto sent a quick shot past Hrabal to win the game for the Catamounts. The goal was assisted by senior forward Will Zapernick.
Hrabal finished with 27 saves on 29 shots from Vermont. The game drops his record to 6-3-1.
With the loss, the Minutemen fall to a tie with UConn at 6th in the Hockey East standings with 12 points. Boston University leads the conference with 23 points.
UMass will look to rebound with a two-game home series against Alaska Anchorage this weekend. Game one on Friday against the Sea Wolves starts at 7 p.m.
