Box Score

BOSTON -- University of Massachusetts Boston broke open a scoreless game with three second-period goals on its way to a 5-0 shutout of the University of New England in New England Hockey Conference men's action Saturday afternoon (Jan. 30) at the Beacons Ice Arena.

The Beacons, ranked eighth in the United States College Hockey Online (USCHO) poll and ninth in the D3Hockey.com national ranking, improved their record to 16-3-2 overall and sit atop the NEHC standings with a mark of 11-1-1. UNE dropped its third straight decision to fall to 11-8-2 (7-6-1).

MIke Miller opened the scoring at 8:22 of the second period with a backhand tip off a rebound. UNE goaltender Connor Maloney stopped Alex Demchuk's initial shot, but the rebound fell to Miller on the far side and he softly flicked it just over a diving Maloney.

The Beacons second goal came in similar fashion, as Garrison Sanipass scored off a rebound in front. Maloney did well to stop Matt Lemire's shot from the far side, but the rebound fell just outside the crease and Sanipass pushed it into a wide-open far side of the net at 12:47.

UMass Boston tacked on a third goal just before the end of the second, off a top-shelf snipe from Drew Gannon. Senior Andrew Crawford made a lunging effort to keep the puck in the zone and it went right to Gannon in the slot, who turned and ripped a shot off Maloney's glove and off the underside of the bar with 1:07 to go in the period.

David MacGregor kept the barrage going early in the third, as he poked home a loose puck off a scramble in front. Demchuk and Finger picked up assists on the marker at 3:02 of the period.

UMass Boston's top power-play unit made it 5-0 at 6:31, when Frankie DeAugustine's forehand from in close just beat Maloney stickside. Sanipass and Colin Larkin were each credited with assists.

Billy Faust notched his first shutout of the year, stopping 27 shots. Maloney had a career-high 49 saves for the Nor'easters, who host NEHC foes New England College and Saint Anselm College next Friday and Saturday.

(portions of the story courtesy UMass Boston)