Box Score

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Casey Wellman scored a hat trick and added an assist, while James Marcou dished out five helpers to lead No. 10 UMass Hockey past No. 18 Vermont Tuesday night at Gutterson Fieldhouse. All of Wellman's goals came during the second period, with Marcou setting a new career high in assists en route to his 100th career point. The win also snaps a four-losing skid at Vermont, dating back to Feb. 16, 2007. Paul Dainton made 27 saves in goal for the Minutemen (9-2-0, 5-2-0 HEA), who will conclude their three-game road trip on Saturday at Quinnipiac. Gametime is scheduled for 3 PM.

UMass' four goals in the second period were the most for the Minutemen in one period this season. Massachusetts outshot Vermont 31-29 for the game, while the Minutemen were 3-for-6 on the powerplay. The Catamounts (4-5-1, 3-4-1 HEA) were 0-for-4 on the man-advantage, as the Minutemen have killed off 21 of their last 22 penalties.

Both teams played an even and fast-paced first period, with each squad totaling 11 shots and generating a similar number of scoring chances. Vermont had a flurry of chances during the opening ten minutes of the stanza, forcing Dainton to make several consecutive tough saves. Many of Vermont's shots were taken from the right side of UMass' goalkeeper and initially aimed wide, but the Catamounts collected the pucks in the corners for many follow-up opportunities.

The Chase Langeraap, Michael Lecomte, and Will Ortiz line began swarming around Spillane near the midway mark of the period, throwing pucks on goal and making the senior netminder earn his saves.

While Vermont jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on David Pacan's first collegiate goal in the first three minutes of the second period, Massachusetts responded with four goals of its own, three coming from Wellman. The Minutemen knotted the score at one with 11:18 remaining in the frame while on the power play. Will Ortiz skated into the zone and dropped a pass for Marcou just inside the blueline. Marcou held the puck along the wall before making a quick move to feed Wellman in the slot for a one-timer past Spillane.

The Catamounts answered to retake the lead just over a minute later when Brian Roloff sped around a UMass defenseman and snuck one under Dainton for his third goal of the season. Massachusetts stormed back with Wellman's second goal of the stanza on a give-and-go with Marcou. After a turnover in the neutral zone, Wellman fed Marcou with a pass just below the right faceoff dot. Marcou made the Vermont defenseman commit before sliding the puck back to Wellman for the score.

Wellman completed the hat trick with five minutes to play in the stanza with UMass on a five-on-three power play. Marcou maintained possession of the puck to the left of Spillane before spotting a streaking Wellman in the slot. Marcou threaded a pass over to his linemate to complete the play. Massachusetts wasn't done there, however, as Rocco Carzo notched another power play goal for the Minutemen 40 seconds after Wellman's off a pass from Ortiz. Marcou also assisted on the play, giving him four assists for the period.

Massachusetts tacked on two more goals in the third period, the first coming from Justin Braun during four-on-four play. Off a faceoff in the defensive zone, Braun wrapped the puck along to boards to Marcou on the opposite side. Marcou made a one-touch pass to Wellman on the way into the neutral zone. Wellman skated in on Spillane two-on-one before sending a pass to Braun for the one-timer from the left faceoff dot.

Danny Hobbs notched his second goal of the year with 7:55 remaining in regulation with assists credited to Brett Watson and Mark Concannon to close out the scoring.