Providence College didn’t waste any time getting started in its Hockey East showdown against visiting UMass-Lowell on Friday night at Schneider Arena.
The third-ranked Friars (16-3-4, 7-1-3) received first-period strikes from Kevin Rooney, their senior forward from Canton, a shorthanded tally from Mark Jankowski, and another goal from Brandon Tanev for a 4-2 victory over the No. 8 River Hawks (14-5-4, 9-2-3) in front of 3,033.
At 3:51, Rooney crashed the net to stuff home a rebound off a wraparound bid from Garrett Gomez. With the Friars a man down 13 minutes later, Jankowski converted on a breakaway with a forehand deke for 2-0 lead.
A minute later, Tanev made it 3-0 with a wrister. Sophomore Jake Walson, leading all NCAA defenseman with 25 points, had a goal and an assist.
Senior A.J. White netted both goals for UMass-Lowell.
Northeastern 5, Merrimack 2 — Sophomore forward Dylan Sikura scored twice and the Huskies (8-12-4, 3-8-3 Hockey East) killed off all six penalties to record their fifth straight win, beating the Warriors (7-12-5, 2-6-5) in North Andover. NU is 6-0-1 in its last seven games.
BU 5, Maine 2 — Senior Ahti Okanen tallied his team-leading 12th and 13th goals of the season as the 11th-ranked Terriers (12-7-4, 5-4-3 Hockey East) blitzed the host Black Bears (5-14-6, 2-7-2) with four goals in the final two periods. Sean Maguire made 32 saves for BU.
Harvard 4, Colgate 2 — The seventh-ranked Crimson (10-4-3, 6-3-3 ECAC) connected for a pair of power-play goals, including Kyle Criscuolo’s go-ahead tally at 11:39 of the second period, to pull out the win over the Red Raiders (7-15-2, 3-7-2) in Hamilton, N.Y.
Criscoulo’s also set up Jimmy Vesey’s goal with 43 seconds left.
Notre Dame 5, New Hampshire 1 — Freshman Ara Nazarian converted the Wildcats’ first penalty shot in 10 years, scoring with one second left in the second period, but otherwise, host UNH (8-11-4, 2-5-4 Hockey East) had no answer for the 13th-ranked Irish (13-4-7, 9-1-2), who are 8-0-3 in their last 11 games.
Jamie Regan stopped 19 of 20 shots in a relief role in goal.
Vermont 4, UConn 2 — Brendan Bradley snapped a 2-2 tie with 4:29 left and sophomore Travis Blanleil potted his second of the game in the final minute as the Catamounts (10-14-2, 4-7-2 HE) cut down the Huskies (8-14-2, 4-8-2) in Harford.
Women
BC 6, Vermont 2 — Senior Alex Carpenter netted a pair of goals, including her 30th of the season, in a three-goal third period as the top-ranked Eagles (25-0, 17-0-0 Hockey East) toppled the Catamounts (6-17-2, 4-10-2) at Conte Forum. Dana Trivigno racked up a goal and three assists.
Northeastern 4, UConn 0 — The sixth-ranked Huskies (21-4,1, 16-2-0 HE) rolled to their 10th straight victory behind three assists from senior Jordan Krause and freshman goalie Brittany Bugalski (15 saves) to blank Connecticut (9-10-5, 5-7-3) at Matthews Arena.
