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UMass-Lowell had big expectations heading into this season, coming off a Hockey East title and their first ever trip to the Frozen Four, and had a full house for their home opener tonight against Sacred Heart, a squad that posted a college hockey-worst 2-30-4 last season, and hadn't beaten a non-Atlantic Hockey opponent since 2011.
But the Pioneers pulled off the biggest upset of the young college hockey season, and arguably the biggest regular season upset in college hockey in many years with a 2-1 victory tonight over the Riverhawks.
The Pioneers got off to a good start when Drew George put Sacred Heart up 1-0 just 3:49 into the first period while on the power play. From there, Sacred Heart goalie Alex Vazzano controlled the game, making 28 saves through the first two periods of play, to allow Sacred Heart to carry a 1-0 lead into the final period.
The Riverhawks seemed to get things under control when Joseph Pendenza tied the game up 4:24 into the third period, but Sacred Heart had an answer when George scored his second of the game just 1:25 later to give Sacred Heart a lead that they would not relinquish. Vazzano finished his evening with 35 saves on 36 shots.
An upset of this magnitude goes to prove the adage that in college hockey, anybody can beat anybody on any given night.