Following their tough 2-1 OT loss to UNH on Friday night, UMass hosted the Wildcats on Sunday evening at the Mullins Center in what was a key Hockey East battle (UNH fighting for first place with BC and Maine; UMass fighting for 4th place and playoff home ice with BU and others).  UNH came away with a hard-fought 4-3 win.

UMass grabbed the lead just 51 seconds into the game on a goal by Greg Mauldin, but UNH soph Sean Collins tied it up with a goal on a beautifully-executed 2-on-1 later in the first period.  

A key goal for UNH by Martz late in the 2nd period gave UNH a 2-1 lead at the second intermission.  The goal was scored with heavy traffic in front of the crease, and appeared to go into the net after the ref had blown the play dead (after UMass goalie Waidlich appeared to have covered the puck).

UMass D Thomas Pock blasted a one-timer past Ayers early in the 3rd to tie the score at 2-2, but with the goal still being announced, UNH took the lead right back on a goal by Abbott, and the Wildcats increased the lead to 4-2 with a 3-on-1 goal scored by Josh Prudden just seconds after a UNH penalty had expired when UMass turned the puck over at their own blue line.

UMass continued to press, scoring on a Capraro deflection of a big Marvin Degon slapshot from the point, making the score 4-3 with more than half the 3rd period left to play.  The Minutemen couldn't get the equalizer, however, as both goalies made numerous key saves down the stretch.  UMass in particular had multiple stretches of sustained offensive pressure (and almost 2 minutes of 6-on-5 after pulling the goalie), but couldn't score past Ayers.

UMass has made a habit recently of scoring key goals late at home, but tonight's crowd went home quiet.  A disappointing loss for UMass fans, which probably shows just how far this team has come in less than a year.  The young Minutemen looked good for much of the game, clearly holding their own with the powerhouse from New Hampshire.  But a few key breakdowns led to key UNH opportunities, and UNH took advantage of most of those, giving them the weekend sweep.

Interesting to see that UMass freshman goalie Waidlich got his second straight start after having sat on the bench behind fellow freshman Winer almost the entire season.  I assume the coaches decided to give him a shot in Durham on Friday, and that he played so well he earned the unexpected start last night, but am not sure.