Box score

2010 Men's Hockey Digital Media Guide

A three-point performance by senior captain Tyler McNeely and a pivotal goal by linemate Steve Silva helped Northeastern capture its first victory of the season after topping UMass Lowell, 3-1, on Saturday night at Tsongas Center.

Sophomore goaltender Chris Rawlings turned in another sturdy effort, turning aside UML's arsenal of 39 shots to keep Northeastern in the contest the entire 60 minutes. The North Delta, B.C. native combined to make 82 saves on the weekend (43 against UNH on Oct. 22).

McNeely notched Northeastern's first multi-point performance of the season while Silva put away the game-clinching goal midway through the third period in his 100th-career game. Rookie Brodie Reid registered his second assist of the season while classmate Anthony Bitetto acquired his first career point with an assist on McNeely's marker. Freshmen Luke Eibler overtook NU's assist lead after helping out on Silva's game-winner.

UMass Lowell posed the first threat of the contest after rookie Zak Stone took a tripping penalty at 2:15. The River Hawks worked the puck to the near side and Scott Campbell unleashed a slap shot that was greeted by iron. The Huskies were able to rally and fend off the remainder of UML's powerplay.

Right after the kill, the Huskies took advantage of their own extra-man opportunity thanks to McNeely's redirectional goal. Nick Curry sat for two minutes for an illegal elbow, allowing Northeastern to generate the scoring play. Bitetto connected with Reid at the top of the zone and the rookie let one fly through River Hawks' territory. McNeely cleverly put some lumber on the disc and duped UML goalkeeper Marc Boulanger at 5:12 for NU's second powerplay goal of the season.

Northeastern continued to control the pace following the goal, but an elbow by sophomore Drew Daniels yielded a River Hawks' powerplay tally from Maury Edwards at 15:54. Riley Wetmore and Chirs Ickert received credit for the assists. Edwards was able to beat Rawlings on his second attempt, gathering his own rebound off the far post and flinging it over the glove to knot the game, 1-1.

Shayne Thompson's tripping infraction at 1:29 of the second provided NU with another powerplay opportunity to start the frame. The River Hawks exhibited a strong kill, but senior Wade MacLeod nearly capitalized on a funny ricochet off the back boards. His shot was blocked away keeping the Huskies at bay to start the second.

Another UMass Lowell powerplay presented itself after Bitetto was cited for holding at 9:02 of the second. The Huskies stood tall and thwarted UML's,efforts despite Thompson's look at an wide-open net in the waning moments of the two-minute window. Thompson couldn't collect himself and try a shot on net, keeping the second session scoreless.

UMass Lowell came out firing on all cylinders to start the third stanza, but it was Northeastern that broke the tie at 11:25 of the third period. After about a minute of 4 x 4 play, the Huskies made a quick strike with Silva acting as the perpetrator. McNeely ignited the play by connecting with Eibler in the slot. Eibler rocked one wide, but Silva was able to collect the puck behind the net and stuff underneath Boulanger's left pad for the 2-1 advantage.

Rawlings continued to stand tall at his post, keeping UMass Lowell off the board in the remaining minutes of the third.

After UML's skipper Blaise MacDonald opted to pull Boulanger with the faceoff in NU's zone, McNeely stripped the puck from the River Hawks and sauced it in the open basket at 19:52 to solidify the Huskies' first victory of 2010-11.

Northeastern returns to Matthews Arena to host a couple non-conference foes in Holy Cross and Bentley. The Huskies welcome in the Crusaders on Friday, Oct. 29 for an 8 p.m. tilt and turn around to tangle with Bentley on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.

Be sure to get your All-Access account for GoNU.TV if you can't make it to Matthews Arena to watch the Huskies live!

GAME NOTES
• Steve Silva's third-career game-winning goal came in his 100th contest for Northeastern at Tsongas Center tonight

• McNeely's 15th-career multi-point game was NU's first multi-point game for the Huskies this season. The captain recorded his fourth-career three-point outing against UMass Lowell

• McNeely's two goals marks Northeastern's second-consecutive game in which a Husky scored two goals. On Oct. 22 against New Hampshire, junior Mike McLaughlin potted two tallies

• McNeely scored NU's first empty-net goal of the season

• After enduring an early first period injury, Luke EIbler came back in the second period and claimed NU's assist lead after helping out on Silva's game-winner. The Pinckney, Michigan native is currently riding a three-game point streak

• Anthony Bitetto earned his first collegiate point with the secondary assist on Tyler McNeely's first goal