Links: Box Score
Video: Borek Postgame
BOSTON – In one of the wildest college hockey games ever seen, the Merrimack College men's hockey team fell just short of a comeback in an 8-6 loss to #16/RV Boston University Saturday night at Agganis Arena.
Zach Vinnell made history as the first Warrior defenseman to net a hat trick since Karl Stollery did it on New Year's Day in 2011. He scored late in the second, then twice in the third period to pace Merrimack's incredible comeback attempt.
Filip Forsmark also had a career night, as he tallied two goals for his first career multi-goal game.
The Warriors trailed by as many as four goals, but pushed back on multiple occasions to force a close finish in the final few minutes.
The Basics
Score: 16/RV Boston University 8,
Merrimack 6
Records: Merrimack (3-3-0, 1-2-0 HEA) | Boston University (3-3-0, 2-2-0 HEA)
Attendance: 5,339
How It Happened
- Boston University looked to flip the script from Friday's game early on when it took a 1-0 lead 2:22 into the game on an unfortunate bounce for the Warriors.
- Merrimack found itself on the power play just 25 seconds later and cashed in to knot the game. On a rush into the zone, Logan Drevitch slung a pass far side to Forsmark, who knifed into the zone then dropped a pass to Liam Walsh. The junior quickly gave it back to Forsmark along the goal line, who originally lost the puck, but battled back to jam it home just inside the post.
- The quick scoring opening five minutes pressed on under a minute later when the Terriers retook the one-goal edge.
- Puck luck was not on the Warriors' side in the opening 20 minutes, as the Terriers added another 8:52 into the period, then a puck deflected straight into the air off Zachary Borgiel's helmet and dropped into the net off his back to make it 4-1.
- BU had a chance to add to the lead in the final minute with an extended 5-on-3 power play, but Declan Carlile came up with a bevy of blocked shots to stop the chance. He ended the period with five blocked shots total.
- The scoring flurry settled down for the opening eight minutes, but BU extended its lead after that to make it a 5-1 score.
- Merrimack did not back down and started to mount a comeback after the Terriers' fifth goal. On a power play with less than six minutes to play in the frame, Drevitch had a great chance in front get stopped, then Liam Walsh's follow up opportunity was blocked, then the ricochet came to Vinnell, who rifled home his first of the season short side.
- The Warriors had three power play opportunities in the second, including another one in the final few minutes of the stanza that they capitalized on. On a faceoff play, Walsh snapped back the draw to Carlile, who slid it far side to Uens. The junior defenseman sent a seed to the far post that Forsmark deflected in for his second of the night.
- BU slowed the momentum down with a backbreaker of a goal in the final 10 seconds to make it 6-3 after 40 minutes.
- Merrimack snatched momentum right back early in the third. Mick Messner poked a puck free in the defensive zone that Carlile jumped on and started an attack. He hit Max Newton in the neutral, who came in and missed a shot wide to the near side, but Carlile jumped on the rebound on the far side of the goal and tucked it home.
- It took BU 21 seconds to get the goal back and make it a 7-4 score, but the Warriors picked themselves up.
- Just near the midway point of the third, Mark Hillier won a faceoff clean to Matt Copponi in the offensive end, the freshman's shot was blocked, but the loose puck went to Vinnell, who hammered one top shelf from the point.
- Merrimack looked to get within one thanks to some power play opportunities, but could not cash in on a few chances that included a post from just a few feet away.
- Boston University seemed to seal the game with just under two minutes to play with another tally, but Merrimack did not go away.
- With just over a minute left in the game, Newton received the puck at center point, then fed Liam Dennison near the far half wall. Dennison turned it around towards the cage, where Vinnell was waiting for the tap-in to complete the hat trick.
- Merrimack had three shots on goal in the final minute, but could not break through to make it a one-goal margin.
Notes & Numbers
- The assist marked the first point in Hillier's collegiate career.
- Boston University had been tied for the best penalty kill in the nation with a perfect 100% success rate. Merrimack ended the night 3-for-7 on the power play.
- Vinnell, Forsmark, Newton, Carlile, Drevitch and Walsh all finished with multi-point games.
- Messner led Merrimack with a +2 rating.
- The Warriors outshot the Terriers, 32-30, including a 17-shot onslaught in the third.
- Zachary Borgiel made the start in net and was relieved in the first. Troy Kobryn made his season debut in replacement and made 20 saves.
Up Next
Merrimack returns to Lawler Rink Friday night to take on defending national champion, Massachusetts. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm.
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For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook.
