Oct. 30, 2009

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Mass Attack netted two goals just 22 seconds apart to knock off the Providence Friars 5-3 Friday night at Schneider Arena. Martin Nolet netted the game-tying goal midway through the third period before Brian Keane tallied the eventual game-winner. Casey Wellman and Matt Irwin each had a goal and an assist for the Minutemen, while Paul Dainton made 35 saves in goal for No. 17 UMass (4-0-0, 3-0-0 HEA) Alex Beaudry got the start in goal for Providence (4-2-0, 0-1-0 HEA), making 31 saves. The two teams will square off again tomorrow night at the Mullins Center on Halloween night with gametime scheduled for 7 PM.

The Minutemen are off to a 4-0-0 start for the first time since the 2003-04 season. Providence held the edge in shots at 38-36 and won 42-of-65 faceoffs. Massachusetts was three-for-seven on the power play, while the Friars went 2-for-4 on the man advantage. 10 of UMass' 18 goals this season have come on the power play.

The Minutemen adjusted to a smaller ice surface during the opening period, netting the first goal of the game seven minutes into the stanza. Providence answered, however, with a goal of its own late in the frame. Wellman notched his third goal of the season when Massachusetts went on the power play five minutes into the game. After a skirmish in front of Beaudry, Wellman gathered the puck in the crease and flipped a backhand shot over the sophomore netminder. Each of Wellman's goals this season have come with the Minutemen on the man-advantage.

The Friars worked to get themselves on the board throughout the remainder of the period, and had a great chance during their first power play opportunity of the contest midway through the period. Providence maintained puck possession in the UMass end throughout the duration of the Minuteman penalty, but could not get the puck past Dainton. The Friars consistently moved the puck around the perimeter of the zone, forcing the Minutemen to block several shot attempts from the Providence attackers.

Providence was finally able to cash in on its second power play try with just over two minutes to play in the stanza on Jordan Kremyr's first goal of the season. After he took a pass from Matt Germain, Kremyr skated out above the crease and stuffed the puck under Dainton's pads to tie the score at one heading into intermission. Shots were 13-7 in favor of the Friars.

Although UMass outshot the Friars 15-7 during the second period, it was Providence who jumped out to an early 2-1 lead on Greg Collins' first goal of the season. Collins received a pass from Alex Velischek to Dainton's right. Collins then skated out of the corner and threw the puck into the crease. The puck hit a body on its way to net and snuck by Dainton for the score.

Marc Concannon tried to even the score with eight minutes remaining in the frame when he took a pass in the neutral zone. He received the puck as he skated across the blueline down the left side of the ice. Concannon then cut into the slot with speed and tried to get the puck past Beaudry, but he was able to make the stop.

The Minutemen got redemption with 2:49 to play in the period on the team's second power play goal of the night. After Wellman took a long pass from Justin Braun behind the UMass goal, he skated down the right side and tried to tuck the puck under the goaltender. Beaudry made the initial save, but the puck squirted out to the slot where Irwin crashed the net and buried the puck to knot the score at two. Irwin has notched a point in seven straight games dating back to last season.

Once again it was Providence taking an early lead, this time from Mark Fayne just three minutes into the third period. With the Friars on the power play, Kyle McKinnon fed Fayne with a pass at the point. Fayne one-timed the puck through Dainton for the 3-2 Providence lead.

UMass stormed right back, however, with goals 22 seconds apart, the first coming from Martin Nolet on the power play. After Rocco Carzo passed to Will Ortiz at the right side, Ortiz held the puck before sending it across to a streaking Nolet for a one-timer goal.

Keane put the Minutemen on top for good with his first goal of the season. Keane found a loose puck on the goal line and tucked it past Beaudry before he had time to recover. Concannon and Brett Watson were credited with assists. James Marcou added an empty net goal with 35.9 seconds remaining to ice the game.