BURLINGTON, Vt. (Feb. 3, 2008) – Kory Falite (Billerica, Mass.) and Ben Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, Colo.) each had a goal and an assist, but Vermont defeated No. 16 UMass Lowell, 3-2, in Hockey East action Sunday afternoon at the Gutterson Fieldhouse

The Catamounts improve to 7-10-7 overall and 6-6-5 in Hockey East with the victory. The River Hawks fall to 12-9-4 overall and 7-7-4 in league play with the loss.

Vermont never trailed in the contest and scored the game’s first two goals. Reese Wisnowksi (East Middlebury, Vt.) opened the scoring at 2:32 of the first from Chris Atkinson (Sparta, N.J.) and Jonathan Higgins (Stratham, N.H.).

Peter Lenes (Shelbourne, Vt.) made it a 2-0 Catamount lead with his seventh goal of the season on a breakaway at 5:03 of the second. Dean Strong (Mississauga, Ont.) and Kevan Miller (Los Angeles, Calif.) had the assists.

Holmstrom got the River Hawks on the board with a power play marker 8:22 into the second period. Falite and Barry Goers (Ivyland, Pa.) picked up the assists.

Viktor Stalberg (Gothenburg, Sweden) netted the game-winner at 12:34 of the second period from Brian Roloff (West Seneca, N.Y.) and Wahsontiio Stacey (Kahnawak, Que.).

Falite made it a 3-2 game at the 10:49 mark of the third period on a rebound scramble in front of the net. Patrick Cey (Saskatoon, Sask.) and Holmstrom had the assists.

The River Hawks out-shot the Catamounts 33 go 21 for the game, including a 15 to 6 edge in the second period. UML was 1-for-3 on the power play. Vermont was 0-for-2 on the man-advantage.

Joe Fallon (Bemidj, Minn.) stopped 31 UML shots to earn his fifth victory of the season. Carter Hutton (Thunder Bay, Ont.) made his second consecutive start for UML and made 18 saves, but took the loss.

“I thought we played very well over the last 53 minutes of the game,” said UML head coach Blaise MacDonald. “I thought over the last 53 minutes we were clearly the better team. We spotted them a goal early, and then gave up a breakaway goal in the second to go down by two. But overall our effort, our intensity was exceptional; our execution could have been better.

The River Hawks return to the ice Friday night to host Boston University. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Tsongas Arena. Vermont is at Providence for a two-game weekend set beginning on Friday night.