PC Friars Lose to UMass Lowell in the Third Overtime of Hockey East Semifinal

PC news release…

BOSTON – In what turned out to be the second longest game in Hockey East Championship history, the No. 4 Providence College men’s hockey team dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 decision to #8 UMass Lowell in the third overtime on Friday night at the TD Garden.

The teams battled through over 112 minutes of action, including nearly 95 minutes of scoreless play before the River Hawks’ A.J. White scored with 7:33 remaining in the third overtime.

The matchup pitted the two top defensive teams in Hockey East and two of the best in the NCAA. Coming into the game the River Hawks ranked second in the country and Providence was fourth. UML goaltender Kevin Boyle (Matalapan, N.J.) stopped 58 shots including the final 55 after an early goal while Nick Ellis (Millersville, Md.) of the Friars stopped 42.

Ellis was terrific in the Friars net, stopping many point blank opportunities in the extra session.

With 13:22 remaining in the first period, Brian Pinho snapped a shot that nearly squeezed through Lowell’s Kevin Boyle but was batted away before the puck could sneak in. Nick Saracino moved the puck up to Vincent Desharnais along the boards on the right point and took a quick shot through traffic and into the net for a 1-0 Friar lead.

The Desharnais goal marks the freshman’s first career goal and his second point of his debut season.

After 18:54 minutes of play in the first, C.J. Smith knotted the game at one after he slid a forehand under Ellis’ pad.

The Friars outshot the River Hawks 10-5 in the first period.

Neither team was able to capitalize during the second period. Nick Ellis stopped all 10 shots he faced. At 7:17 in the second, Ellis made the initial save and the rebound bounced back to Tyler Mueller and Ellis was forced to slide across the crease for a second pad save.

With 5:42 to go in the third period, Ellis made another great save, stopping a Lowell two-on-one shot at the far post.

The third period remained scoreless and the Friars began the overtime outshooting the River Hawks 30 to 20.

Providence and Lowell skated through the first 20-minute overtime, both teams recording eight shots on goal.  Trevor Mingoia came close to ending it, but his shot rang off the crossbar after he collected a rebound for a quick shot just off the near post.

Just over 12 minutes into the second overtime, Saracino hit the crossbar, nearly ending it once again for the Friars.

A centering pass from the corner deflected off of A.J. White’s skate and behind Ellis to give the River Hawks the win with 7:33 remaining in the third overtime.  The goal was initially waived off on the ice, but after replay, the call was overturned.

Up next, the Friars’ destination in the NCAA Tournament will be announced on the NCAA selection show to be shown on Sunday (March 20) at noon on ESPNU.

HOW THEY SCORED

1-0 (PC): Goal Scored by Vincent Desharnais (Saracino, Pinho): Slap shot from the right point through traffic.

1-1 (UML): Goal Scored by C.J. Smith (Gambardella): Forehand to backhand deke in the slot.

2-1 (UML): Goal Scored by A.J. White (Fallon): Bounced off White’s skate on a two-on-one.

NOTES

Tonight’s game was the ninth longest in NCAA history … the last time the Friars were without a power play opportunity was Dec. 12, 2009 vs. Boston College … Providence attempted 126 shots and had a season high 59 shots on goal … Power Plays: Providence – 0/0, UMass Lowell 0/1 … official shots on goal: Providence 59, UMass Lowell 44 … Game time: 4:21 … Attendance: 13,242.