Hockey Suffers Tough 2-1 Loss to #4 Northeastern
Boxscore
BOSTON, MA – The Merrimack hockey team outshot and
outplayed the fourth-ranked Northeastern Huskies Friday night but
fell 2-1 at Matthews Arena.
With the game tied 1-1 in the third, Ryan Ginand scored the
game-winner as Joe Cannata (Wakefield, MA) was
caught out of his net trying to play the puck. Greg Costa fed the
puck to Ginand who one-timed it into the open net at 11:26 for his
11th of the year.
Merrimack came out flying early, drawing an early power play and
getting six shots in the game's first five minutes, including
four on the man advantage, but Brad Thiessen was up to the early
challenge stopping all six. Minutes later, Jesse Todd
(Camrose, Alberta) had a partial breakaway shorthanded,
but Thiessen gloved his attempt to keep the game scoreless.
Merrimack outshot the Huskies 11-4 in the first.
The Huskies got on the board first at 5:24 of the second on a
penalty shot goal by Steve Quailer. Quailer was awarded the penalty
shot on a power play after a Warrior defender covered the puck in
the crease with his hand. It was the first penalty shot in a
Merrimack game since Warrior goaltender Jim Healey stopped a
penalty shot against Maine back in the 2005-06 season.
The Warriors had an excellent chance minutes later as Thiessen was
caught out of his crease with the teams skating four aside.
Jeff Velleca (Waterbury, CT) got the puck to
Karl Stollery (Camrose, Alberta) but his shot was
stopped by a diving Thiessen, who just got his right pad on the
puck.
Merrimack tied it in the third on a two-man advantage as
Joe Cucci (Melrose Park, IL) buried a rebound in
front of a Stollery shot at 4:15. Todd earned the second assist on
Cucci's third of the year.
The Warriors put the pressure on in the final minutes needing a
goal to tie. Bobby Kramer (New York, NY) had an
excellent scoring chance shorthanded after Chris Barton
(Calgary, Alberta) found him wide open in front of
Thiessen but his shot sailed just wide. With Cannata pulled for the
extra attacker, they controlled the play but each attempted shot
went wide.
Thiessen, who has started every game for Northeastern, was the
difference, stopping 31 shots, including 13 in the third period.
Merrimack outshot the Huskies 32-20.
Merrimack (5-10-3, 2-8-2 HEA) concludes its home and home with the
fourth-ranked Huskies Saturday at 7 p.m. at Lawler Arena.
