Despite holding the No. 1 power play in the country, the UMass Minutemen couldn’t convert with the extra man against UMass Lowell on Friday night. 

The Minutemen (9-13-3) dropped a 1-0 decision in Lowell, continuing their six game skid. Goaltender Luke Pavicich did all he could in net, making 36 saves in the defeat, while River Hawks goalie Gustavs Davis stopped 28 shots for the shutout. It was the first game that UMass Lowell has won against UMass this season; they dropped a 2-1 game in regulation and needed a shootout to win in the second matchup. 

The River Hawks dominated in the face off dot, winning 43 faceoffs to the Minutemen’s 19. 

Both teams had a couple of looks on the power play early, but couldn’t convert on them. The game went into the first intermission still deadlocked at 0-0. 

UMass Lowell struck first midway through the second period. An unforced turnover from UMass sent the puck right to the stick of Dillon Bentley, who snapped a shot past Pavicich just over eight minutes into the middle frame. 

The end of the second period was a chaotic one, with both goalies needing to make jaw-dropping saves in the final seconds to preserve the 1-0 Lowell lead. 

Though the Minutemen desperately needed a tying goal, it was the River Hawks who outshot the visitors 13-6 in the final frame, holding UMass off the scoresheet for the last 20 minutes. 

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