Massachusetts jumped out to a 2-1 lead midway through the first period, but couldn’t hold the lead and St. Francis Xavier scored the last six goals of the game to defeat the Minutemen, 7-2, in their only exhibition game of the season.
St. Francis Xavier led 1-0 just 2:27 into the game, but freshman Kevin Jarman tied the game a minute later, when he flipped in a shot to the back of the net with assists credited to Peter Trovato and John Toffey . UMass then took a 2-1 lead when Craig MacDonald sniped a shot from the right slot at the 8:48 mark. Freshman Garrett Summerfield assisted on the goal.
But St. Francis Xavier’s Omar Ennafatti tied the game at 2-2 just 1:21 later, Blake Robson gave the X-Men the lead for good at the 11:56 mark, and the St. Francis Xavier defense clamped down, limiting UMass’ chances en route to the 7-2 final.
The Minutemen were outshot, 32-19, and allowed the X-Men to connect on 4-of-10 power-play chances. UMass was playing without several of its top players, all expected to be in action in Thursday night’s season opener.
The Minutemen will take on UConn on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 7:00 p.m. at the Mullins Center.
