River Hawks Drown Saints
OMAHA, NEB. — Senior Kory Falite scored a goal and assisted on two others as the University of Massachusetts-Lowell defeated St. Lawrence, 3-1, in game one of the IceBreaker Tournament on Friday.
The Saints will next play the loser of the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Army in the consolation game at 5:35 p.m. on Sunday.
“Lowell has an excellent team, and it was a good test for us to open the season,” St. Lawrence coach Joe Marsh said. “I thought we did a pretty good job of skating with them five-on-five, and I am pleased with the effort the guys put in. We do, obviously, have a long way to go, particularly in terms of finishing off our scoring chances, but I saw a lot more positives out there tonight than negatives.”
The Saints failed to score on three power-play chances, while UMass-Lowell converted on one-of-six.
The River Hawks started the scoring in 7 minutes, 46 seconds into the first period on its first power play. Maury Edwards scored on a loose puck near the crease. Kory Falite got the assist.
SLU still managed to outshoot the River Hawks, 10-6, in the opening period. Brandon Bollig had a chance late in the session, but River Hawk goalie Carter Hutton reached behind him and snagged the puck before it crossed the goal line.
UML took a 2-0 lead 5:30 into the second when Ben Holmstrom finished off a two-on-one rush with a shot over SLU goalie Alex Petizian's shoulder. Falite again got the assist.
St. Lawrence's Max Mobley had a shot kick off a defenseman in front of an empty net to start the third with Hutton trapped behind the net. Bobby Torney had another opportunity to bring the Saints within a goal in the third, but hit the post. It was the final scoring chance for St. Lawrence (0-1 overall).
“I thought our younger guys did a pretty good job,” Marsh said. “There wasn't a ton of game experience out there on defense beyond Jeff Caister and Derek Keller, but Bobby Torney, Matt Raley, George Hughes and Pete Child played pretty well.”
Falite added an empty-net goal with 40 seconds left to seal the win for the River Hawks (1-0).
Notes
St. Lawrence will play again tomorrow at 5:35 p.m. in the consolation game against Army.
All-in-all, it wasn't a poor showing by the Saints. They killed 1-of-6 penalties and Petizian seemed adequate in net. The problems it appears came from the offense not quite in sync. Plays were slow to develop and centering passes to players who weren't there.
UMass-Lowell was much more crisp and scored accordingly, especially Kory Falite, who had a goal and two assists.
St. Lawrence failed to score on three power-play opportunities against the very clean River Hawks.
I'll have more tomorrow morning. Crazy night at the office (A couple guys out covering things, one person called in sick).
Around the ECAC
Union defeated Maine, 4-1.
I take it back. Clarkson was down big on Michigan State. The Golden Knights lost, 6-1.
Colgate and Niagara tied, 4-4.
Quinnipiac downed Ohio State, 3-1.
