The Quinnipiac men’s ice hockey team defeated the University of Massachusetts-Lowell (UMass-Lowell) River Hawks 4-1 to win the NCAA East Regional in Albany, New York, and advance to the Frozen Four in Tampa, Florida.
The River Hawks struck first, less than 24 hours after a third period comeback and defeat of Yale in overtime.
Quinnipiac junior Sam Anas found himself in the penalty box early in the game, and the River Hawks took advantage. Dylan Zink ripped a one timer from the point and the puck was deflected, finding its way to the back of the net to give UMass-Lowell a 1-0 lead just three minutes into the game.
“There was absolutely no panic in our game just because we were losing,” Anas said. “We were out-playing them and we were playing Quinnipiac hockey.”
Anas was back in the box in the second but this time the result would be a bit different.
The Bobcats killed off the penalty and almost immediately following, the River Hawks turned the puck over.
Quinnipiac sophomore Landon Smith skated into the offensive zone, picking up the loose puck just over the blue line and shooting a quick wrist shot past goaltender Kevin Boyle to even things up, 1-1.
Less than two minutes later, Anas, who was once again a game-time decision, picked the puck up along the left wing boards in the neutral zone.
Anas faked a shot while on a two-on-one with Smith, pulling the puck to his backhand and roofing it past Boyle to give the Bobcats the lead.
“That goal was a big one for us,” Quinnipiac head coach Rand Pecknold said. “(Anas) is a phenomenal hockey player and a better person…there’s a letter on his shirt for a reason.”
About five minutes later, Quinnipiac freshman Scott Davidson had the puck down the right wing boards and somehow found the space between Boyle’s shoulder and the crossbar to give the Bobcats a two-goal lead.
Travis St. Denis added an insurance marker with under four minutes to go in the third, knocking a clear attempt by a River Hawks defender out of mid air at the hash marks in front of Boyle.
St. Denis corralled the puck, drawing Boyle out of position with a quick backhand-forehand deke, and sent it past the diving UMass-Lowell goaltender.
“We’re thrilled to be going to the Frozen Four again…The most important thing today was our preparation for the game,” Pecknold said. “We weren’t perfect tonight, but we were really good.”
Quinnipiac advances to the Frozen Four for the second time in program history, and will take on the Boston College Eagles on Thursday April 7 at 5 p.m. at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
