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Video: Scott Borek Postgame Comments //
Dennison Postgame Comments
AMHERST, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's hockey team refused to go away Friday night at Mullins Center against #7/7 Massachusetts in a 2-2 tie.
Down by a goal late in the third period,
Liam Dennison netted his first collegiate goal on the power play to send the visiting bench into a frenzy as part of a thrilling Hockey East tie. After two weeks without game action, the point means the Warriors are now unbeaten in three out of their last four games, as they continue to trend upward.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 2, #7/7 UMass 2 (OT)
Records: Merrimack (2-7-2, 1-3-2 HEAM) | #7/7 UMass (7-3-1, 3-3-1 HEAM)
Attendance: 2,904
Game Duration: 2:35
How It Happened
- The Warriors showed no signs of rust in the opening minutes of the game and were able to get on the board just over five minutes in. Defenseman Jacob Modry pinched into the attacking far corner and slid a pass to the top of the crease. Jordan Seyfert jockeyed for the loose biscuit before Hugo Esselin swooped in to deposit his first career goal.
- The defending NCAA runner-ups had a swift response, as UMass' leading scorer, Mitchell Chaffee, beat Warrior starting netminder Troy Kobryn just 12 seconds after Esselin's tally.
- A back-and-forth second period yielded no scoring. Shots in the frame finished 9-8 in favor of the visitors from North Andover to bring the game total to 22-19 for UMass.
- Scoreless hockey continued into the third period until just under a dozen minutes in when Matthew Kessel tallied his fourth of the season for the Minutemen.
- Merrimack's power play was unable to convert on its first three chances of the evening before it was rewarded its fourth with 2:30 to play. The futility ended then. Sami Tavernier flew into the offensive zone and tossed a pass to the half wall to Mac Welsher. The freshman found space, then saucered a pass to the high slot where Dennison took it in stride and fired it home over the shoulder of Filip Lindberg.
- A potential heartbreaker was avoided in the overtime session. UMass seemingly had won the game early in the extra session, but the goal was waived off after video review deemed that Kobryn was interfered with and unable to defend his position.
Notes & Numbers
- Kobryn kicked out 26 shots on the night, including one in overtime.
- Chase Gresock was on the top puck all evening, as the sophomore easily led all skaters with eight shots on goal.
- Merrimack's penalty kill unit is now a perfect 8-for-8 dating back to the third period against Northeastern Nov. 9.
Up Next
Merrimack and the Minutemen travel to North Andover Saturday for a 7 p.m. puck drop at Lawler Rink.
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