LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Evan Campbell had a goal and an assist to lead the 14th-ranked University of Massachusetts-Lowell men’s hockey team to a 3-0 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in the season opener for both schools at Tsongas Center.
Campbell (Port Coquitlam, BC) set up the game’s first goal at 4:03 of the first period, when his shot was stopped by the right pad of RPI senior goaltender Jason Kasdorf (Winnipeg, MB/Des Moines Buccaneers). Lowell sophomore Michael Louria (Wexford, PA) was there to flip home the rebound for his first of the season.
The River Hawks then capitalized on a late first period power play, when Campbell buried a shot from close range for a 2-0 lead.
Lowell capped the scoring at 2:06 of the second on one-timer by senior winger Adam Chapie (Oxford, MI). Junior Michael Kapla (Eau Claire, WI) sent a pass across the face of the Rensselaer goal for Chapie, who snapped a shot past Kasdorf.
The Engineers, who were out-shot 31-14 in the first two periods, came out much more aggressively in the third, claiming a 13-7 advantage.
Kasdorf finished with 35 saves, including 15 in the second period alone. Senior Kevin Boyle (Manalapan, NJ) stopped all 27 shots he faced for the shutout.
HIGH SAVE COUNT:
Jason Kasdorf’s 35 saves were the most since March 6, 2015, when he made 36 at Clarkson.
SEASON-OPENING DEFEAT:
The loss for the Engineers was the first to start a season since the 2011-12 season. RPI fell to Minnesota State-Mankato, 1-0.
POWER PLAY DIFFERENCE:
UMass-Lowell went 2 for 4 on the power play, while the Engineers were 0 for 5.
UP NEXT:
RPI hosts first-ranked Boston College at the Houston Field House on Sunday (2pm).
The River Hawks welcome Colorado College to Tsongas Center for a two game series next weekend.
