Jansson, Gordon score for Huskies
PALM DESERT, Calif. – Michigan Tech fell 3-2 to No. 10 UMass Lowell Friday in the semifinal of the Coachella Valley Cactus Cup at Acrisure Arena. The Huskies tied it in the third period, but the River Hawks scored the game-winner on the power play with 1:43 left.
“We had a difficult time establishing any sort of foundation, but we fought hard and got better in the third,” Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. “UMass Lowell is a really good team, and we needed to compete harder. Goaltending was good and gave us a chance to win.”
Tech (10-7-2) opened scoring 2:01 into the game when Elias Jansson redirected in a shot by Chase Pietila for his fourth goal of the season and first on the power play. Rylan Brown added the second assist and Pietila extended his point streak to five games.
The River Hawks tied it up at 13:01 of the first period when Matt Crasa scored on a rebound from Ian Carpentier and Lee Parks.
There wasn’t any scoring in the second period, and the Huskies had to kill off three penalties, including a rarely called interference as Matthew Campbell touched the puck while still having a skate in the penalty box.
UML (11-4-2) took its first lead of the game 2:17 into the third when Pierson Brandon finished off a 2-on-1 from Matt Crasa.
The Huskies pressured late in the third period and Isaac Gordon found the equalizer with 6:58 left in the third when he one-timed in a pass to the slot from Logan Morrell. Stiven Sardarain added the second assist on Gordon’s third of the season and 21st of his career.
Tech was whistled on a tripping penalty late in the third, and Lee Parks scored the game-winner with 1:43 remaining.
The Huskies weren’t able to pull the goaltender to add the extra attacker and the clock ran out.
Tech managed a season-low 15 shots on goal while UML had 28. Derek Mullahy had 25 saves for the Huskies, and Henry Welsch stopped 13 shots for the River Hawks. Viktor Hurtig hit the post in the first period, and Isaac Gordon drew iron in the third period.
The Huskies were 1-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Tech will play in the Cactus Cup Consolation game on Saturday. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. Eastern against either Holy Cross or Omaha.
