University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Mercyhurst
Huskies Fall 5-1 To Lakers
2/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 26, 2010
STORRS, Conn. - Despite one of the strongest offensive efforts of the season, the University of Connecticut men's hockey team fell 5-1 to Mercyhurst Friday Night. The Huskies outshot the Lakers 42-32 on the night but only could manage one goal.
With the loss UConn drops to 5-25-3 on the year and 5-19-3 in Atlantic Hockey action while Mercyhurst improves to 15-17-3 on the season and 15-9-3 in AHA play.
The Huskies were off to a tough start after a four-goal first period by Mercyhurst. The two teams each recorded 12 shots in the period, but the Lakers were able to get four past the UConn goaltending squad of Garrett Bartus (St. Charles, Ill.) and Brad McInnis (Anchorage, Alaska).
Mercyhurst started things off early scoring their first goal of the night just 23 seconds in to the game. After the goal, the Huskies buckled down and had strong control of the puck for the next 15 minutes, but the Lakers recorded their second goal of the night at 15:23 after seizing control of the puck. They notched goal #3 at 16:28 and tapped in a power play goal to bring the lead to four with just 50 seconds remaining in the period.
In the second, the Huskies halted the Lakers' offense and right before the end of the period, scored a goal of their own. At 19:51, Justin Hernandez (Farmington Hills, Mich.) recorded a goal for the third-straight game with some help from Jason Krispel (Cypress, Calif.) and Matt Miller (Bayonne, N.J.).
UConn's offense continued to surge into the third period, as the Huskies outshot the Lakers 30-20 in the final two periods, but UConn was unable to get anything else on the board and with the open net, Mercyhurst tacked on their fifth goal of the night late into the third period.
Between Bartus and McInnis, UConn made 27 saves on the night. Bartus finished with just over 16 minutes of play, three goals allowed and six saves while McInnis played just under 43 minutes allowing just one goal and making 21 saves on the night.
In the other net, Ryan Zapolski continued to add to his save total making 41 saves on the night for the Lakers, aiding tremendously in the victory.
The Huskies are back in action with their final game of the regular season on Saturday night against Mercyhurst at the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum. Prior to the 7:05 start time, the Huskies' two seniors will be honored on Senior Night.
