UMass hockey: Minutemen take care of business in 3-1 win over Army

The UMass hockey team celebrates a goal during the Minutemen’s 3-1 win over Army on Friday at the Mullins Center in Amherst.

The UMass hockey team celebrates a goal during the Minutemen’s 3-1 win over Army on Friday at the Mullins Center in Amherst. PHOTO BY ERYKA INGRAM/UMASS ATHLETICS

By RYAN AMES

Staff Writer

Published: 11-29-2024 8:02 PM

Modified: 11-29-2024 11:45 PM


AMHERST – The UMass hockey team used a pair of second-period power play goals to propel past Army in its 3-1 win on Friday at the Mullins Center.

Cole O'Hara and Daniel Jencko each notched man-advantage strikes less than five minutes apart during the middle frame, as the Minutemen picked up their seventh win of the season.

“I really liked our game tonight,” UMass head coach Greg Carvel said. “The kids played a solid 60 minutes. We talk about playing the game with integrity and this group is doing a real good job of playing the game the right way. Again, 42 shots, I thought we could have earned another goal or two but we played well defensively, a real solid 60 minutes.”

Francesco Dell'Elce and Jack Musa each had two points to lead UMass. Dell'Elce registered the game's first goal late in the first period on a play primarily set up by Jack Musa.

“I was just skating in open space and [Jack Musa] made a nice pass in the slot and I just tried to get it on net quickly,” Dell'Elce said.

Musa spun from below the attacking goal line and dished a backhand pass to the slot that was meant for Dans Locmelis, but Dell'Elce picked up the loose puck and fired it past Black Knights goalie Evan Szary (39 saves) glove side.

The Minutemen flung 42 shots on Szary, their third straight game with at least 40 shots, including 24 during the second period.

“We're 7-6-2 and I think we're a much better team than our record,” Carvel said.”But we need to score more. That's all I can say, we're working on it.”

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“Our past couple of games we haven't really been scoring so we need to produce more on the offensive side,” Musa said. “So shooting more pucks on net will help us do that and we had three tonight, which was good.”

Friday's win marked Jencko's first game back since Oct. 26 against Connecticut and Michael Cameron's first appearance since Nov. 2 against American International College.

“It was nice to get Jencko and [Michael] Cameron back tonight,” Carvel said. “You saw Jencko's ability to score and create offense and he's a nice player to have back.”

O'Hara doubled UMass' lead, 2-0, at 15:07 of the second on a snap shot from his usual spot on the power play at the half-wall. O'Hara's seventh goal of the year was another top-corner beauty, off assists from Aydar Suniev and Musa.

Jencko capped off a stellar second for UMass with a one-timer from the far faceoff dot, with less than 30 seconds remaining in the period. Lucas Olvestad executed a pretty cross-ice pass to Jencko, who blasted home his second goal of the season unmarked for the Minutemen's 3-0 lead.

“[Jencko] is a great threat to have on the power play,” Dell'Elce said. “It's great to have him back, obviously he scored today, so hopefully we can continue working with him and continue to have some success.”

Army spoiled Michael Hrabal's shutout bid with a power play goal halfway through the third. Barron Woodring batted in a loose puck right in front of Hrabal's crease off Nils Forselius' initial shot.

Hrabal had 24 saves in the victory, with 11 coming in the third.

UMass will have more than a week off before its next game against No. 13 Boston University on Saturday, Dec. 7. Puck drop at Agganis Arena is set for 6 p.m.