Huskies Drop Overtime Thriller To UMass Lowell, 4-3

Friday, December 30

Storrs, Conn.

7:15 PM

University of Connecticut

UMass Lowell (Championship)

12/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey

Dec. 30, 2011

Box Score | Toyota Classic Photos

STORRS, Conn. - The UConn men's hockey team completed a thrilling rally from two goals down in the third period but eventually dropped the 19th annual Toyota UConn Hockey Classic to No. 17 UMass Lowell in overtime, 4-3.

Connecticut finished as the runner-up for the 10th time in the 19-year history of the tournament. UMass Lowell became the first team from Hockey East to claim the championship. 2011 marked the first time since 2000 that the championship game went into overtime. UConn lost that contest as well, falling to Wayne State, 5-4.

UMass Lowell senior David Vallorani finished a rebound past a sprawling Garrett Bartus 13:01 into overtime en route to being named the tournament MVP. Vallorani finished the weekend with five points on two goals and three assists.

This year's Toyota Classic was played in front of a packed house throughout the weekend with 1,587 last night and 1,425 in attendance for the championship contest.

At 14:37, Scott Wilson took a pass from Stephen Buco in the low slot and beat Bartus to make it 1-0. David Vallorani made it 2-0 at 18:05 when he finished scored from the right doorstep off a missed shot from William Eiserman. Eiserman blasted a shot from the left point that went wide of the left post. The puck hit hard off the back wall and came right out front to Vallorani as Bartus was still recovering from the first shot attempt.

UMass Lowell went ahead, 3-0, with a goal from Terrence Wallin at 14:10 of the second period, setting up UConn's comeback.

The UConn power play, ranked fourth in the nation coming into the contest, was the catalyst for the second time in as many games. Junior captain Sean Ambrosie put UConn on the board at 18:26 of the second when he finished from in the slot with assists going to Billy Latta and Brant Harris.

UConn came out of the locker room for the third with increased intensity and took control of the opening minutes of the final period.

Cody Sharib made it 3-2 when he finished a rebound on the left doorstep after a Miles Winter shot was saved by River Hawk goaltender Doug Carr at 1:47. Winter was hooked going towards frame, leading to a delayed-penalty goal. UConn was awarded the goal and the power play.

Just 11 seconds later, Ambrosie sent the puck along the wall to Latta who fired a shot from the top of the right face-off circle and past Carr to equalize at 3-3. The goal was Latta's fifth of the season and UConn's fourth power-play goal of the weekend.

The two teams traded chances in the remaining 18 minutes but both Carr and Bartus came up with the necessary stops, with several from point blank.

Connecticut spent much of over-time on the penalty kill, taking two penalties in the extra session. The Huskies had chances by Schneider, Ambrosie and Latta but it was Vallorani who would be the hero, scoring his goal at 13:01.

Garrett Bartus finished the game with 39 saves with Doug Carr stopping 26 shots for UMass Lowell.

Vallorani was joined on the All-Tournament Team by defenseman Chard Ruhwedel, Carr and Scott Wilson.

UConn filled out the remaining two spots with Latta and junior defenseman Alex Gerke.

Connecticut will get back into AHA action on Friday and Saturday, January 6 and 7, when it hosts Niagara. Both games will begin at 7:15 at Freitas Ice Forum.

All-Tournament Team

David Vallorani, UML, F, MVPChard Ruhwedel, UML, DScott Wilson, UML, FDoug Carr,UML, GAlex Gerke, UConn, DBilly Latta, UConn, F

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