The UMass Minutemen are off to a 2-0 start this season with wins over both Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Boston University at home. The team’s season opener against Rensselaer was a special teams battle more than anything, with the Minutemen capitalizing on four of their ten power plays on the night. Despite being out shot 16-6, and being down 1-0 after the first frame, UMass was able to use special teams to get back into the game and eventually roll to an easy 5-2 victory. Defenseman Matt Irwin led the attack for the minutemen with two goals on the night. The Brentwood Bay, British Columbia native notched one goal on a 5-on-3 powerplay and the other on a 4-on-3 man advantage. Both goals were one-timers from the point that beat the RPI goalie high glove side. James Marcou also had an outstanding night with four assists, which tied a personal career high.

The number two ranked Boston University Terriers rolled into Mullins Center at UMass on Friday October 16 for their season opener. The Minutemen jumped out to a 2-0 lead in front of a near capacity crowd in Amherst with goals from Rocco Carzo and Matt Irwin. The Terriers managed to battle back to tie the game at two by the end of the second period with two goals by Alex Chiasson. The third goal for Umass came after multiple quality scoring chances, which on a pass during a 2 on 1 in which the BU defender included about four shots that hit the post. But the persistence paid off as Will Ortiz got the game winner accidentally deflected the pass into his own net while trying to fend off the intended target Danny Hobbs. Between the pipes the netminders, Paul Dainton and last years Hockey East rookie of the year Kieran Millan, put on a clinic. In the end, it was Dainton who prevailed stopping 39 of the 41 shots he faced on the night and was the best player on the ice for either team. The Minutemen’s next game comes on October 23 as they host Maine.