Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
UMass-Lowell
Spartans Earn 2-1 Win Over UMass-Lowell
10/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 17, 2008
Final Stats | Quotes
Post-Game Audio:
Rick | Drew | Kurt | Ben
East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State got its first home victory of the season - and got a glimpse of the future - in a 2-1 win over UMass-Lowell on Friday night at Munn Arena. A pair of power-play goals 16 seconds apart in the third frame was the difference, and freshman netminder Drew Palmisano made 21 saves in his collegiate debut.
There was a marked difference in the level of the Spartans play on Friday evening - the squad came out with a high intensity, forechecked well, created turnovers in the defensive zone, and put 12 shots on net - just four shy of their complete game total from the previous night. The spirited play continued through the second period, as the Spartans limited the visitors to just 14 shots over the opening two frames.
The Riverhawks broke open the shutout in the final second of the second period when Kory Falite lifted the puck over the stick hand of Palmisano. There had been a turnover deep in the MSU defensive zone, and Paul Worthington backhanded a pass to Falite in the low slot.
A five-on three power play for the Spartans quickly turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead with back-to-back goals 16 seconds apart. Ben Warda scored his first collegiate tally at 3:53 when he crashed the net to put back a rebound from a Andrew Conboy shot. Seconds later, Hutton made an unreal stop on a Tim Crowder offering, sliding back to make the stop after being far out of the net. Crowder would get his revenge with his first goal of the season at 4:09; assists were credited to defensemen Jeff Petry and Tim Buttery.
The Spartans put a season-high 14 shots on net in the third period, and kept pressing until the final buzzer. The Riverhawks pulled Hutton for the final 26 seconds, but could not get an equalizer.
Michigan State opens conference play next weekend when it hosts Northern Michigan on Friday and Saturday. Gametimes both nights is at 7:05 p.m.
NOTES: Ben Warda scored his first collegiate tally in the third period ... Drew Palmisano won his first collegiate start, the 14th netminder (of 20) since 1980 to win his first start at Michigan State. All three of MSU's goaltenders have won their debut: Jeff Lerg had 22 saves against Cornell (4-3) in October of 2005, Bobby Jarosz had 24 saves in a 5-2 win over Mercyhurst a year ago ... Jeff Petry has had a point in three of Michigan State's three games, and leads the team in scoring with three points ... Tim Crowder's goal was his first of the season. He, Matt Schepke, and Andrew Conboy are all tied for second in scoring with a goal and an assist ... The Spartans finished with 36 shots on goal, just nine shy of their season total from the first three games combined (45) ... Michigan State was shut out a night ago, but came back with a pair of tallies in the final period. Michigan State has never been shut out in back-to-back games ... Michigan State's penalty kill was a perfect 7-for-7, improving the unit to 24-of-26 on the season (.923) ... the power play clicked on 2-of-5 chances, and is now 4-for-19 (.211) ...
