AMHERST, Mass. – The Union College men's hockey team fell to #6 University of Massachusetts, 7-1, Friday night at the Mullins Center.

Junior Bram Scheerer scored his first collegiate goal in the opening frame while first-year Ethan Benz tallied his first collegiate point with the primary assist on Scheerer's goal.

The Minutemen initially opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game, but the goal was waived off for contact with senior Connor Murphy. The relief did not last long as Taylor Makar found the back of the net at 4:37 of the period. The Dutchmen tied it up when Benz forced a turnover and dished the puck to Scheerer in the defensive zone. Scheerer took it up the ice, weaving through a pair of defenders and firing a shot from the top of the right circle to tie the game. UMass tacked on two more in the period, a power-play goal by Kenny Connors at 7:23 and a goal with 13 seconds left by Jerry Harding.

UMass added a fourth goal in the second frame off the stick of Cole O'Hara before erupting for three goals in the final period.

UMass went 3-for-6 on the powerplay while Union was 0-for-2.

Murphy made 32 saves in the loss while Luke Pavicich stopped 17 shots. Junior Henry Graham took over at 11:59 of the third period, making five saves in his collegiate debut to earn the win.

Union looks to split the weekend series with the Minutemen on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Mullins Center.