University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Merrimack
Merrimack Drops UConn Hockey 4-1 In Sunday Matinee
10/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 25, 2009
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The Merrimack Warriors used a two-goal first period to defeat the University of Connecticut men's hockey team 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at Lawler Arena. Justin Hernandez netted the lone goal for the Huskies (0-4-0), his first of the season. Jeff Larson got the start in goal for Connecticut, making a career-best 26 saves while Andrew Braithwaite played in goal for the Warriors (4-2-0), making 23 stops.
Merrimack outshot UConn 30-24, with the Huskies going 1-for-7 on the power play. The Warriors were 2-for-9 on the man advantage.
The Warriors notched two power-play goals during the first period, coming one minute apart. The first came 12 minutes into the frame after Matt Turner was whistled for hooking. Karl Stollery controlled the puck in the UConn zone, and slid a pass over to Jesse Todd at the doorstep. Todd then buried the puck into the open net for his second goal of the season.
Merrimack took a two-goal lead 1:07 later after the Huskies were sent to the penalty box for an interference call. Simon Demers gathered the puck in the neutral zone and dished it to Stephane Da Costa streaking across the blue line. Da Costa then fed Pat Bowen with a cross ice pass, who sniped it over Larson's glove.
The Huskies outshot Merrimack 7-4 during the second period as the two teams exchanged goals. Chris Barton made it 3-0 just 1:40 into the frame as Stollery sent him in on a breakaway. The junior captain backhanded his team-leading sixth of the season past Larson just as a Merrimack penalty had expired.
Connecticut brought it back to a two-goal game seven minutes into the stanza on Hernandez's tally. Hernandez grabbed a loose puck in front of the Warrior net and wristed it past Braithwaite.
After the Huskies pulled Larson in an attempt to tie up the score, Elliott Sheen tacked on an empty net goal late in the third period. Merrimack peppered the UConn defense throughout the third period, forcing Larson to make 13 saves.
The Huskies will return to action next weekend with a two-game set with RIT. Both games are slated for 7:05 PM.
