Photo by: Michael Furman
When goalie Peter Lowell started the season, he was looking to build off the momentum that he had from last season.
The walk-on senior started in 13 games, finishing the season ranked No. 34 in the nation in save percentage and in goals against average.
Lowell’s year got off to a rocky start after he was pulled in the first quarter of the first game of the season against then-top ranked Syracuse.
“After I got pulled against Syracuse I had a rough week, but coach just told me to hang in there and if I got my shot again to be ready to go,” said Lowell. “The Dome is a tough place to play it is hard to see and Syracuse is obviously a great team.
On March 16, Lowell got a shot at redemption when he replaced sophomore Zander Buteux in the middle of a game versus Notre Dame, which the Pioneers ended up losing 14-7.
In the three games since, Lowell has been the starting goalie and has helped DU (6-4, 1-0 ECAC) resurrect its season, winning all three games.
Last Saturday, in the Pioneers conference opener against Hobart, the senior made 10 saves in a 17-13 win to get his third win of the season.
“I was a little frustrated in getting pulled and losing my spot after the Syracuse game,” said Lowell. “Z [Zander Buteux] came in and played really well and deserved a shot. I was frustrated, but I knew I had to do what was best for the team.”
Despite the shaking of his confidence to begin the season, Lowell proved to be patient and persevered in getting better at practice. He also went to his coaches for help.
“Pete hung in there,” said head coach Bill Tierney. “He came to practice each day wanting to know what he needed to do. He worked hard and never complained.”
The Pioneers are on a roll heading deep into their conference schedule, which includes upcoming games against Bellarmine and Quinnipiac this Friday and Sunday respectively, Lowell appears to have won back his position for the remaining schedule.
“I am back in and I have to do my role as the starter, and playing well has helped a lot,” said Lowell.
While on the bench, Lowell never sulked, rather he put in the extra time and attention that allowed him to reappear in the starting lineup.
“I think Pete is a thinker, like most goalies,” said Tierney. “He is studying film and I think the most important thing is he is realistic,” said Tierney. “He went to talk to my assistant, coach Trevor Tierney, who talked to him about the flaws in his game and has tried very hard to correct those.”
The extra work has paid off. In the game following Notre Dame, Lowell made ten crucial stops that propelled the Pioneers to their biggest win of the season, a 13-12 win over then-No. 12 Stony Brook on March 20.
He allowed only one goal in the pivotal fourth quarter.
“He made some big saves down the stretch,” said Tierney, “I thought during the game, they are such a strong offensive team, that he did what he could, but down the stretch [against Stony Brook] end he played phenomenal.”
During the ensuing game against Air Force on March 27, Lowell had 10 saves in what was one of his best games overall heading into league play.
“Heading into conference play, hopefully I can do whatever I can to put our team in a great spot to win,” said Lowell.”
Tierney agrees, “Right now I think that it is good for the team to head into league play with a senior in the net. We can go as far as these guys want to go.”
Lowell’s character can be seen in his recent success in goal, rather through how he handled himself in the few weeks he sat on the bench—supporting his team and his teammate, who had replaced him.
“I am probably more proud of how [Peter] handled himself when he was taken out of the lineup,” said Tierney. “He remained a positive leader, he helped Zander when he was in there and those are all qualities of a good goalie, but more importantly a good person.”
