It wasn’t the home opener the UMass hockey team was hoping for Friday.

Hosting Sacred Heart, the Minutemen opened the scoring just over a minute into the game to get the crowd at the Mullins Center excited.

The Pioneers didn’t go down that easy, however. Sacred Heart scored before the first period came to an end, potted two goals late in the second period and scored early in the third to take a 4-1 lead.

UMass got one back and scored after pulling Michael Hrabel from goal, but the equalizer never materialzed as the Minutemen fell, 4-3.

Linden Alger opened the scoring just 1:08 into the contest off assists from Cole O’Hara and Dans Locmelis to give UMass (2-2) the early lead.

Sacred Heart evened the score with 11:20 to go in the first after Charles Tardif tallied for the Pioneers.

The second period saw Sacred Heart (1-1-1) take control of the game. With 5:07 remaining in the frame, the Pioneers took the lead after Reid Pabich knocked in a rebound. Gabe Blanchard and Jerami Tremblay were credited with the assists.

That advantage was extended to 3-1 after Paul Minnehan scored off an assist from Pabich with 1:40 to go in the second, a score that held to the end of the period.

Just 26 seconds into the third period and Sacred Heart extended its lead, with Mikey Adamson scoring off an assist from Jake Bongo that gave the Pioneers a 4-1 lead.

UMass’ Cam O’Neill cut into the deficit, scoring with 9:51 to play off assists from Lucas Olvestad and Kenny Connors. With the goalie pulled, the Minutemen cut it to 4-3 with 1:57 to play off the stick of Owen Murray. Locmelis and Ryan Lautenbach had the assists, but UMass was unable to score again with the net empty.

The Minutemen outshot Sacred Heart 36-20 and were 0-3 on the power play.

UMass won’t have to wait long to try to avenge the loss, as it travels to Fairfield to square off with the Pioneers Saturday at 7 p.m.