UMass Hockey: Minutemen score three goals in second period, defeat Air Force 5-1

Staff Reports

Published: 10-12-2024 10:34 PM

After a scoreless first period, the UMass hockey team erupted for a trio of goals in the second against Air Force and cruised to a 5-1 win on Saturday night, bouncing back from Friday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Omaha.

UMass sophomore goaltender Michael Hrabal was fantastic between the pipes, saving 33 of Air Force’s 34 shots, good for a .971 save percentage. Friday marked Hrabal’s best performance through UMass’ three games, where he holds a 2-1 record.

Junior defenseman Lucas Olvestad got the scoring party started less than three minutes into the second. Olvestad scored on an assist from Michael Cameron. Exactly five minutes later, Cole O’Hara made it 2-o in favor of the Minutemen. O’Hara’s tally was assisted by Aydar Suniev and Kenny Connors.

Suniev then added a goal of his own to continue his stellar start to his sophomore season. The goal — assisted by Connors and O’Hara — put UMass ahead 3-0 and capped off the scoring in a period the Minutemen out shot Air Force 18-5 in.

Nick VanTassell got in on the fun midway through the third, netting his first goal of the season on assists from Joey Musa and Kennedy O’Connor. After Chris Hedden put home the lone Air Force goal, O’Hara buried his second on an empty net to give UMass a dominant 5-1 victory on Saturday.

UMass won 37 face offs compared to Air Force’s 24, and the Minutemen blocked 23 shots while the Falcons only blocked nine. Although UMass head coach Greg Carvel won’t be thrilled with his team’s five penalties, he will be pleased with the fact that the Minutemen were able to kill four of them.

Up next for UMass is its home opener. The Minutemen host Sacred Heart on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Mullins Center.

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