LOWELL, Mass. – Junior Matt Ferreira scored twice and sophomore Riley Wetmore netted the eventual game-winner at the end of a wild second period as UMass-Lowell defeated Bentley University 8-5 Tuesday night in non-conference hockey action at Tsongas Arena. Freshman Brett Gensler (St. Charles, Mo./Youngstown Phantoms) had two goals for the Falcons.

Bentley's Aaron Stonacek (Basehor, Kan./Fairbanks Ice Dogs) scored the game's first goal at 6:55 of the first, foreshadowing an offensive outburst by two teams that came into the game struggling to score.

Stonacek's goal came when a three-on-two developed in the neutral zone with sophomore Brett Hartung (Tallahassee, Fla./Wichita Falls Wildcats) skating down the right wing and Stonacek down the middle. Hartung put the puck on net, and Stonacek tipped it in.

The lead was short lived however, as UML scored three times in just over four minutes, with the tying goal coming from Jason DeLuca just 29 seconds after Stonacek's goal. The River Hawks went into the first intermission with a 3-1 lead.

A wild second period ensued with seven goals scored, four by Bentley. Jared Rickord (Skokie, Ill./Springfield Jr. Blues) and Gensler scored just 26 seconds apart early in the period to tie the game. Gensler's goal came unassisted when he banged in a loose puck on the left post.

Ferreira put UML ahead 4-3 at 5:15, but Gensler made it 4-4 with his second of the night, a power play goal just over three minutes later. It was Bentley's first with a man advantage in 10 games. Senior Dustin Cloutier (Berkley, Mich./Mahoning Valley Phantoms)  set the goal up, hitting a streaking Gensler coming down the slot for a one-timer.

The River Hawks went back ahead at 13:11 as Patrick Cey made Bentley pay for a turnover in its own zone. Less than a minute later though, the Falcons tied the score for the third time in the period on an Erik Peterson (Shorewood, Minn./Sioux Falls Stampede) goal. Cloutier again set it up, waiting until a sliding defenseman was out of the way so he could hit an open Peterson in the slot from behind the left post.

UML though seized the lead for good with 1:33 left in the period on Wetmore's 11th tally of the season. They extended their lead to 7-5 early in the third period on Ferreira's second of the game with the team's skating 4-on-3.

Special teams proved to be the difference, with UML converting four of their seven power play chances, including Wetmore's game-winner at the end of the second and Ferreira's in the third period which made it a two-goal game.

The Falcons fall to 6-13-4 on the season, while the River Hawks improve to 4-19-2. Bentley is back in action on Friday when they open a two-game series at home against Army.

Box Score

At Lowell, Mass.

Bentley (6-13-4)               1   4   0   --   5

UMass-Lowell (4-19-2)      3   3   2   --   8

1st Period: B, Aaron Stonacek (Brett Hartung) 6:55; UML, Jason DeLuca (Josh Holstrom, Derek McCoy) 7:24; UML, PP David Vallorani (Colin Wright) 9:08; UML, SH Michael Budd (Joseph Pendenza) 11:26

2nd Period: B, Jared Rickord (Ryan Kayfes) 3:05; B, Brett Gensler (unassisted) 3:31; UML, PP Matt Ferreira (Patrick Cey, Vallorani) 5:15; B, PP Gensler (Dustin Cloutier, Erik Peterson) 8:18; UML, Cey (Riley Wetmore, Vallorani) 13:11; B, Peterson (Cloutier, Zach Marginsky) 14:03; UML, PP Wetmore (Maury Edwards, Pendenza) 18:27;

3rd Period: UML, Ferreira (Edwards, Chad Ruhwedel) 1:48; UML, EN Cey (Vallorani) 19:34

Shots: UML, 38; B, 33

Saves: UML, T.J. Massie 28; B, Joe Calvi 30

Penalties: UML, 7-22; B, 9-18

Power Plays: UML, 4-7; B, 1-4