Box Score
BOSTON, Mass.—Senior Frankie DeAugustine (Pittsburgh, Pa.) scored twice in the third and senior Billy Faust (Alta Loma, Calif.) made 20 saves to tie the program for career shutouts, to help #9/9 UMass Boston knock off eight-seeded University of Southern Maine 4-0 in the New England Hockey Conference Quarterfinals.
THE BASICS
#9/9 UMass Boston 4, University of Southern Maine 0
(UMass Boston 19-4-3)
(University of Southern Maine 8-17-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless opening 30 minutes, UMass Bostons scored once in the second and three goals in the final 10 minutes, to end the Huskies season.
Southern Maine ends the year 8-17-1 in head coach Ed Harding's first season. With the win, the Beacons advance to the NEHC Semifinals, where they will host fourth-seeded University of New England.
DeAugustine scored twice in a five-minute span to give the Beacons some breathing room and captain Albee Daley (Averill Park, N.Y.) and freshman Garrett Gallagher (Aston, Pa.) also found the back of the net.
Gallagher and senior Derek Colucci (North Scituate, R.I.) both finished with two points in the win, as the Beacons earned their fourth-consecutive trip to the semifinal round.
In net, Faust was only tested 20 times, but made seven key stops in the third period, to hand the Huskies their fourth-consecutive shutout playoff loss. With the shutout, Faust tied Kevin Bendel ('12) for the program-record for shutouts in a season (two) and tied Bendel, Ryan Donovan ('10), Frank Soltez ('99) and teammate Zach Andrews (Coral Springs, Fla.) for the program-record for career shutouts (three).
Sophomore Kyle Shapiro had another big game in net for Southern Maine, as he just missed out on a new career-high with 47 saves on 50 shots. Shapiro made 53 saves the last time he played the Beacons and ends the year 0-3 against UMass Boston with 121 saves on 132 shots.
Neither side could wrestle control of the game in the first period, as the Beacons earned a slim 9-8 edge in shots and held a 13-5 edge in face-offs.
Daniel Mattson nearly gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead five minutes in, but his shot from the high slot dinged the far post and bounced away. The Beacons best chance came with less than a minute to play in the period, as Jeremy Finger (Orlando, Fla.) came in one-on-one with Shapiro, but couldn't poke a shot past the sprawled out goalie.
UMass Boston finally broke the scoreless tie at 10:38 of the second. Directly after failing to score on the power-play, Colucci sent a high shot from the slot that Shapiro struggled to control. The rebound fell out in front of the crease and Daley darted to the puck, before sliding it past Shapiro on the far side.
The Beacons had another great chance late in the period, but Finger dinged the underside of the bar off a mad scramble in front.
After having a goal disallowed on their first power-play chance of the third, UMass Boston doubled up their lead midway through the period. Colin Larkin (Waterford, Mich.) left the puck for Tyler Bishop (Ramsey, N.J.) at the blue line and DeAugustine tipped Bishop's blast over Shapiro's shoulder for a 2-0 lead at 11:28.
From there the goals began to flow, as the Beacons' second line created an easy goal in front. Gallagher dumped the puck behind the net and Colucci, from behind the net, flipped it out in front, where DeAugustine easily beat Shapiro five-hole for his 97th collegiate point.
UMass Boston sealed the win at 19:02, as Gallagher flipped the puck the length of the ice and it rolled just inside the far post, for his second collegiate tally.
BY THE NUMBERS
- UMass Boston outshot the Huskies 51-20 and earned a 40-26 edge in face-offs.
- The Beacons went 1-for-3 on the man advantage, to improve to 5-for-11 on the season against the Huskies.
- With the win, UMass Boston earned their seventh-straight win over Southern Maine and improved to 15-16-1 all-time against the Huskies.
- The Beacons were not whistled for a penalty for the first time in 92 games. The last time the Beacons had zero penalty minutes was January 12, 2013 against Saint Michael's College.
- DeAugustine moved into a tie for fourth-place in program history with his 102nd career game played and a tie for fifth with his 16th collegiate power-play goal.
WHO'S NEXT
UMass Boston will host fourth-seeded University of New England on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Beacons Ice Arena. The Beacons knocked off the Nor'Easters in the 2013 and 2014 ECAC East Quarterfinal Round.
