UMass-Lowell senior netminder Cam McCormick turned in another stellar performance Friday, getting his sixth shutout of the year by blanking Harvard 2-0 in the first round of the Wells Fargo Denver Cup.
The win, coming in the first-ever meeting between the two programs, was Lowell’s ninth straight, its longest streak as a Division I program. McCormick extended his own school records for shutouts in a season and a career (eight).
The early story of the game was the goaltending duel between Harvard sophomore Will Crothers and McCormick, as the pair matched each other save for save.
After nearly 55 minutes of scoreless hockey, the River Hawks (13-2-0) finally broke through at the 14:36 mark of the third period with a power-play tally.
With Crimson defender Dave McCulloch in the box for interference, Lowell center Laurent Meunier picked up a rebound of a Josh Reed shot and lifted it over a sprawling Crothers for the 1-0 advantage.
Lowell extended its lead just 1:30 later, as winger Mark Concannon picked up the puck off a pass from Ed McGrane on the wall, skated in and beat Crothers five-hole.
With Crothers pulled for the final 1:44 of regulation, the Crimson (5-5-3) applied offensive pressure, but was not able to solve McCormick as the senior finished the night with 27 saves.
For Harvard, Crothers fell to 2-4-2 on the year, making 36 saves.
The River Hawks will face Denver for the tournament title at 7 p.m. MST Saturday, while the Crimson will play Bowling Green in the consolation game at 4 p.m.
