Links: Box Score
Video: Borek Postgame |
Highlights
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – A game-tying goal with less than four minutes to play in the third, then an overtime game-winner with under a minute to play pushed #12 Massachusetts past the Merrimack College men's hockey team, 3-2, Wednesday night in front of a raucous crowd at Lawler Rink.
Steven Jandric broke the ice with the game's first goal 13:04 into the first period and
Mac Welsher had a silky tipped-in goal in the second period to account for Merrimack's scoring. The Warriors held the lead after Welsher's goal for 18:40 before UMass tied the game late in the third, then sealed the win in the extra session.
The Basics
Score: #12/12 Massachusetts 3,
Merrimack 2 (OT)
Records: Merrimack (6-9-0, 3-7-0 HEA) | Massachusetts (9-4-2, 7-2-2 HEA)
Attendance: 2,122
How It Happened
- Things looked promising early as Merrimack took a 1-0 lead in the first period when Jandric found the back of the net for the third time this season. After a one-timed shot from Hugo Esselin was stopped, Zach Uens corralled the loose puck in the near corner, then played it back for Max Newton. The graduate student teed up his former Alaska Nanook teammate for a one-timed blast from the high slot that hit a Minutemen defender in front and soared past UMass goalie Matt Murray.
- In his first game action since Nov. 13, Zachary Borgiel made the start in the Warrior net and came up with 12 stops in the first period to keep Merrimack on top.
- Merrimack held onto the lead until the Minutemen knotted things up in the second period on the power play midway through the frame.
- The Warriors responded quickly to take the lead into the third. With just over two minutes to play in the second, Jake Durflinger passed up on a chance to shoot in front of a horde of bodies and instead fed Declan Carlile at the point. The defenseman walked the line, faked a pass to his defense partner, then took a quick shot towards goal that Welsher got his stick on for a deft tip-in through the legs of Murray.
- Borgiel's strong play kept the Warriors in front throughout most of the third, but another tip-in goal beat him with 3:24 to play, then an in-tight chance was the difference in overtime to send UMass back to Amherst with the win.
Notes & Numbers
- With the assist, Newton pushed his point streak to six games. He's gathered seven points on three goals and four assists during that stretch.
- Jandric's six shots on goal led all skaters.
- Uens, Carlile and Liam Dennison all had two blocked shots.
- Borgiel ended his evening with 24 saves.
Up Next
Merrimack hosts the U.S. National Team Development Program Sunday in an exhibition matchup. Puck drop is set for 3:00 pm.
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