Links: Box Score
Video: Scott Borek Postgame Comments
DOVER, N.H. – The Merrimack College men's hockey team was unable to come back from an early three-goal deficit in a 5-2 setback against New Hampshire at the Whittemore Center Sunday night.
Three Wildcat goals in the opening eight minutes of the game turned out to be too much for the Warriors.
Jordan Seyfert and
Regan Kimens tallied goals to get Merrimack to within one, but the lead proved to be too large in the loss.
The Basics
Score: New Hampshire 5,
Merrimack 2
Records: Merrimack (4-10-2, 2-5-2 HEAM) | New Hampshire (8-7-1, 4-5-0 HEAM)
Game Duration: 2:05
How It Happened
- The home side needed less than a minute to turn the tides from Saturday evening's Warrior win, as Angus Crookshank opened the scoring just 46 seconds in.
- New Hampshire doubled up on its advantage just 37 seconds later when Chase Stevenson potted one home.
- The troublesome first period for the Warriors continued midway through the frame when a defensive zone turnover ended up in the Merrimack goal off the stick of Charlie Kelleher. Merrimack starting goalie, Jere Huhtamaa was pulled not long after the third goal in favor of Troy Kobryn.
- Merrimack took advantage of a Wildcat mishap not too long after and Seyfert was the primary benefactor. After a pair of UNH defenders collided with each other, Zach Uens hit Chase Gresock with a breakout pass through the neutral zone. Gresock broke in on a 2-on-1 with Seyfert and tossed a saucer pass to his classmate, who fired home a one-timer to the near side for his third on the campaign.
- The Warriors began to establish their game in the second stanza and it paid off midway through. Tyler Irvine got Merrimack forward with a sharp breakout pass from his own end that got to Liam Walsh. The freshman handed the puck off to Kimens, then the duo rushed into the attacking end. With Walsh charging towards the goal, Kimens rifled a wrist shot that snuck under the leg of Wildcat goalie Ty Taylor to narrow the margin to one.
- New Hampshire found its footing in the final period and ended the frame with a 7-3 edge in shots on goal. The Wildcats also netted a pair to put to rest any hope of a Warrior comeback.
Notes & Numbers
- Irvine is now on a three-game point streak. It's his third such streak of the season.
- Gresock tied for the game-high in shots on goal with five.
- Kobryn was solid in relief and ended with 23 saves on 25 shots.
- Declan Carlile led all skaters with four blocked shots and was one of two Warriors (Tyler Heidt) that finished the night with a plus rating.
Up Next
The Warriors conclude their pre-Christmas slate Friday night when they hit the road to Schenectady, N.Y. to face ECAC foe Union. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. at Messa Rink.
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