Links: Box Score
Video: Scott Borek Press Conference
AMHERST, Mass. – The Merrimack College men's hockey team had plenty of late pushback, but it opened its 2020-21 campaign with a 3-1 setback to Massachusetts Saturday night at Mullins Center.
Captain
Chase Gresock found the back of the net for the first Merrimack goal of the season late in the third period, but the visitors were unable to find the equalizer in the final six and a half minutes of play.
The Basics
Score: 8/9 Massachusetts 3,
Merrimack 1
Records: Merrimack (0-1-0, 0-0-0 HEAM) | Massachusetts (2-2-1, 0-0-0 HEAM)
Game Duration: 2:22
Attendance: 0
How It Happened
- While neither team was able to find the back of the net in the opening stanza, the Warriors had a pair of golden opportunities. In his first collegiate game, Alex Jefferies intercepted a pass and broke in all alone on a shorthanded breakaway, but was turned aside early in the first. Then, with under 10 seconds to go, Filip Forsmark (also playing his first collegiate game) hit Mac Welsher with a pass in the neutral zone and the sophomore tandem nearly combined to light the lamp as well.
- Jere Huhtamaa was perfect in the opening 20 minutes, as he stopped all 10 shots he faced. He also backstopped the Warriors for 1:33 on a UMass 5-on-3 advantage, which was highlighted by a show-stopping glove save.
- The Warriors took a pair of minor penalties in the second period and the Minutemen were able to take advantage on the second one when Huhtamaa was finally beaten by a Josh Lopina shot.
- Massachusetts applied pressure in the opening minutes of the third and cashed in when Eric Faith put one home to make it a 2-0 game.
- With under seven minutes to play, Merrimack cut the lead in half. Logan Drevitch blocked a pass along the boards deep in the defensive end and Jefferies jumped on the loose puck. The freshman swung open and fired a long-range pass that got to Gresock at the attacking blue line. He came in all alone and ripped one home to the far side past netminder Matt Murray.
- Merrimack had a few flurries in the closing minutes, but Bobby Trivigno found the empty net with under a minute to play to wrap it up.
Notes & Numbers
- Zachary Borgiel relieved Huhtamaa after Massachusetts' first goal. He made nine saves on the 10 shots he saw in his collegiate debut.
- Jefferies' assist marked his first collegiate point. He also led the Warriors in shots on goal with four and plus/minus with his +1 rating.
- Freshmen Conor Lovett, Filip Karlsson-Tagtstrom and Kevin Sadovski also skated in their first career games.
Up Next
The Warriors open their home slate Sunday afternoon at Lawler Rink with another 4:30 puck drop against the Minutemen.
--
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook.
