The 10th-ranked UMass hockey team struck early en route to a 3-1 victory at Vermont on Saturday night.
The Minutemen (16-7-1, 9-4-1 Hockey East), who moved into first place in the conference on Friday, stayed there after their weekend sweep of the Catamounts (3-15-3, 0-11-1).
“It wasn’t easy, Vermont’s a pesky team,” UMass coach Greg Carvel said. “They had momentum for parts of the game, but ultimately we found a way to sweep on the road. That’s four big points for us and we had to earn it both nights. Vermont didn’t lay down. I thought we did a good job defensively for the most part and it was really nice to see a power-play goal to salt the game away tonight.”
UMass led 2-0 in the first period. John Leonard scored his team-leading 17th goal of the season less than two minutes into the game.
Jake McLaughlin made it 2-0. Vermont halved the deficit, but Matthew Kessel scored a power-play goal in the third for cushion.
Filip Lindberg made 34 saves in the win. Ty Farmer, Anthony Del Gaizo, Bobby Trivigno and Oliver Chau each had one assist.
Amherst College 5, Tufts 2 — Pieter von Steinbergs and P.J. Conlon each scored twice to lead the visiting Mammoths (4-9-1, 3-6-0 NESCAC), Saturday.
Rhode Island 69, UMass 66 — The Minutewomen saw their program-record 11-game win streak come to an end with the loss in Kingston, Rhode Island.
UMass (14-4, 4-1 Atlantic 10) erased a 15-point second-quarter deficit and led in the final five minutes, but couldn’t pull out the victory.
Sam Breen had 26 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Bre Hampton-Bey and Destiney Philoxy had 11 points apiece.
Tufts 48, Amherst 46 (OT) — The fourth-ranked Mammoths (15-2, 3-1 NESCAC) fell to the No. 1 Jumbos (16-0, 3-0), Saturday at LeFrak Gymnasium.
Madeline Eck had 16 points, while Hannah Fox added 10 for Amherst.
Tufts tied the game at 40-40, but both teams went scoreless over the final 1:30 of regulation.
Kate Sullivan (Granby) gave Amherst a 42-40 lead in overtime. The teams were then tied three times down the stretch. Tufts took the lead with 1:04 left. Eck missed two free throws that could have tied the game with 43 seconds left. Fox missed a potential game-winning 3 with three seconds left.
Emerson 68, Smith College 66 — Amelia Clairmont had 21 points, Dashelle Gleissner had 13 and Katelyn Pickunka (Westhampton) added 10, but the visiting Pioneers (14-2, 0-1 NEWMAC) dropped their league opener, Saturday.
Wheaton 81, Mount Holyoke 21 — Annika Brooks had 12 points and Mikayla McEwen had 10 rebounds for the visiting Lyons (1-15, 0-1 NEWMAC), Saturday.
Williams 2, Amherst 1 — Emma Flynn scored for the visiting Mammoths (8-4-3, 3-3-2 NESCAC), Saturday.
Tufts 96, Amherst 78 — Grant Robinson and Tim McCarthy each had 15 points, but the Mammoths (11-5, 2-2 NESCAC) fell on the road, Saturday.
Sorlien Invitational — Danielle Notarfrancesco (shot put, 46-10), Jada Harris (high jump, 5-8), Emilie Cowan (400, 56.39), Lindsay Witt (200, 25.45) and Sarah Conant (mile, 5:07.85) each won for UMass, Saturday in Kingston, Rhode Island.
Mary Grinaker Invitational — Ella Rossa won the 60 hurdles in 9.33 seconds for Amherst College, Saturday at Smith College.
Amherst native Frances Duncan placed second in the 800 (2:23.54) for Smith. Katie O’Dea (3,000; 10:53.09) and Nyla Conway (high jump, 5-1¼) each placed first.
Sorlien Invitational — Noah Kortkamp (60 hurdles, 8.38) and Lucas Honohan (500, 1:07.37) each placed third for UMass, Saturday in Kingston, Rhode Island.
Mary Grinaker Invitational — Henry Buren finished first and set an Amherst College record with a time of 6.97 seconds in the 60 dash, Saturday at Smith College.
Mount Holyoke Invitational — Smith College (770.5) and Mount Holyoke (767) finished behind Wellesley (1,241.5), Sunday.
Samantha Nemivant placed first on 3-meter (455.1) and 1-meter (418.15) diving for the host Lyons. Ashton Bliss won the 500-yard free and 1,650 free.
Smith’s 200 free relay of Paula Torre-Nieto, Grace Apodaca, Annie Wilson and Elisabeth Nesmith had its best finish, placing second in 1:45.91.