January 30, 2004
UMass Lowell Forfeits Five Victories

By Nate Ewell

UMass Lowell, the surprise team in Hockey East in 2003-04, suffered a devastating blow Friday when the school announced that it has forfeited five victories this season due to the use of an ineligible player.

The five losses – three of which came in Hockey East play – drop the River Hawks below the .500 mark, to 8-16-3 overall, 5-7-1 in Hockey East. They now stand in seventh place in the conference standings with 11 points.

The school indicated that a compliance review revealed that an ineligible transfer student had played nine games this season, including the five victories. Athletic director Dana Skinner reported the mistake to the NCAA when it was discovered on Thursday.

“The fact that current members of the hockey team must suffer for an administrative error is something that causes me great anguish," said Skinner. "I have apologized to the team, the Hockey East Association, and our member institutions. We have also taken steps to ensure that mistakes of this nature can never occur again."

Sophomore forward Paul Falco, who transferred to Lowell from Maine, played nine games for the River Hawks from Dec. 27 through Jan. 24. The school did not identify Falco in its official release, but he is the team's only player who fits the description of the situation (the only other transfer, goaltender John Yaros, has appeared in four games, including Friday night's win). Falco had one goal in his nine appearances.

Falco did not play in UMass Lowell's 2-1 win over Boston University on Friday, a victory that would have lifted the River Hawks into a tie for fourth place in the conference if not for the forfeits.

The forfeited wins came against Union, Michigan State, Merrimack, and two against Massachusetts. The two additional victories make the Minutemen 14-5-5 on the year, including a 10-3-2 mark in Hockey East play.