PROVIDENCE, R.I. --The 10th-ranked Providence College Friars defeated the
UMass-Amherst Minutemen, 4-0, in HOCKEY EAST action on Saturday, January 6
at PC's Schneider Arena.  Friar netminder Nolan Schaefer made 23 stops
while recording his second shutout of the season.
         The Friars took a 1-0 lead when Drew Omicioli backhanded a high
shot past UMass goaltender Markus Helanen at the 14:13 mark of the first
period.  UMass had carried the play and held an 8-2 shot advantage before
the Friars struck again at 17:42 on the power-play.  Matt Libby fed the
puck to Peter Fregoe down low who centered a pass to Mike Lucci.  Lucci
one-timed a shot past Helanen for PC's second goal.
         Fregoe opened the scoring in the second period for the Friars when
he finished off a two-man break in by firing in a shot past a sprawled
Helanen at the 4:05 mark.  Omicioli scored what proved to be the final goal
of the game as he poked in a rebound with 47 seconds remaining in the
second period.
         Mike Johnson replaced Helanen in net for the Minutemen in the
third and was peppered with 16 shots, but he did not allow a goal.
         With the win, the Friars improved to 10-5-3 overall and 6-3-1 in
HOCKEY EAST action, while UMass-Amherst fell  to 5-12-2 overall and
4-5-0  in league play.
         The victory moved the Friars into a three-way tie for first place
with Boston College (13 points) and New Hampshire (13 points) in the HOCKEY
EAST standings.
         Providence College will return to action on Sunday,  January 7  at
UMass-Amherst at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 6, 2001
Schneider Arena, Providence, R.I.
UMass-Amherst (5-12-2)  0       0       0       ---0            18-36   0-4
Providence College
(10-5-3)     2       2       0       ---4            18-36   1-6

Per     Time    Team    Goal Scorer  (Assists)
1       14:13   PC      Drew Omicioli 3 (Peter Fregoe, Devin Rask)
1       17:42   PC      Michael Lucci 5 (Peter Fregoe, Matt Libby) PP
2       4:05    PC      Peter Fregoe 5 (Drew Omicioli, Devin Rask)
2       19:13   PC      Drew Omicioli 4 (Devin Rask)

Saves:
Markus Helanen (UM)     2       9       x       --11    (40:00)
Mike Johnson (UM)       x       x       16      --16    (20:00)
Nolan Schaefer (PC)     9       8       6       --23    (60:00)

Attendance: 1,621 (Schneider Arena)


M.J. Connors
Providence College
Sports Information
Ph: 401-865-2202
Fax: 401-865-2583