BOSTON -- Six-ranked Massachusetts-Lowell shutout Northeastern 5-0 at Matthews Arena on Saturday night.
With the victory, the River Hawks improved to 6-1-2 (4-0-1 Hockey East Association), which marks the best start for Massachusetts-Lowell since 1995-96. Northeastern fell to 0-7-1, 0-3-1.
Junior forward Michael Fallon opened the scoring at 5:45 of the second period, collecting and shooting a rebounded pass to the left of the crease and beating Northeastern goaltender Derick Roy.
Freshman C.J. Smith scored his second career goal at 12:52 of the middle frame off a deflected shot by Dylan Zink. Sophomore Michael Kapla, who skated in his 50th career game, recorded assists on the first two goals of the contest. Smith amassed a game-high and career-high five shots-on-goal in the victory.
Freshman forward Jake Kamrass gave the River Hawks a 3-0 lead in the second period at 16:34, as junior forward Michael Colantone came up the left wing and passed it across the slot for Kamrass' first collegiate tally.
Sophomore forward Joe Gambardella made it a 4-0 game on a shorthanded breakaway beating Roy glove side at 8:28 of the third period. Suter put the finishing touch on the win with a slapshot from the right point, off a pass from senior Terrence Wallin with 31 seconds left in the game.
Gambardella had a solid night in the faceoff, winning 11 of 17 faceoffs.
Goaltender Josh Smith stopped 20 shots in his first career shutout in his third career start, while Roy notched 23 saves in the losing effort. UMass Lowell went 2-for-5 on the power play, marking the third consecutive game they have recorded two power-play goals. The River Hawks are now 6-for-15 in the past three games on the man advantage.
