Early lead slips away as UMass falls to Vermont, 4-2, in Friendship Four

UMass ice hockey coach Greg Carvel will face his old team, just not in the game the Minutemen hoped to be in.

UMass couldn’t make its early lead stand in a 4-2 loss to No. 20 Vermont, Friday in the Friendship Four in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The Minutemen (3-7-1, 1-5-1 Hockey East) led 2-0, but the Catamounts (8-3-2, 4-2-1) tied it in the second period and added two goals in the third, including an empty-netter, to seal the win.

UMass will face No. 19 St. Lawrence in the consolation game, Saturday at 11 a.m. EST (NESN). Carvel spent the last four years coaching at St. Lawrence, his alma mater.

Griff Jeszka and Shane Bear each scored against Vermont for UMass.

Jake Horton, Callum Fryer, Steven Iacobellis and Kurt Keats each had assists.

Ryan Wischow made 30 saves in the loss.