Links: Box Score
BOSTON—The Merrimack women's ice hockey season came to a close on Saturday night, as the team fell to the No. 3/3 Northeastern Huskies in the Hockey East Quarterfinals at Matthews Arena.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack Warriors 0, Northeastern University Huskies 8
Records: Merrimack (8-25-1, 7-21-1 HEA) | Huskies (28-4-2, 14-2-1 HEA)
Location: Matthews Arena | Boston, Mass.
How It Happened
- Northeastern scored in the opening minute to take a lead on home ice, adding to their lead 4:12 into the first with their persistent offense. Merrimack responded with two hard shots from the point on back-to-back plays, with the first coming from Katie Kaufman with the second from Julia MacLean. On a delayed penalty the Huskies scored their final of the period to take a three-goal lead into the break.
- Opening the second period, Raice Szott again used the space at the point to get another tricky shot on goal as a response to the Huskies' fourth of the night.
- Gorski stood tall throughout, making a quick reactionary save kicking her pad out for a toe save, as well as bending back to scoop out a puck rolling behind her to again hold the line.
- Midway through the middle period, the Warriors hustled to get another set of back-to-back hard shots on goal. Hannah Corneliusen used her footspeed to pick a rolling puck from a defender's stick for a stuff in attempt as she crashed in on goal.
- Energized from the play, Madison Oelkers posted another challenging shot on a carry-in from Emily Oosterveld that was brought from behind the goal line and managed by Sam Lessick, who dished off to Oelkers for a challenging save for Northeastern.
- Oelkers again challenged in the third period cutting in against four Huskies into the zone and using her strength to work a heavy shot on that was kicked out, with the rebound scooped up by Northeastern to keep the Warriors from taking the rebound.
- Merrimack continued to press in the third period posting a game-best nine shots on goal but were continuously stonewalled by Northeastern. The Huskies added three goals in the third.
Notes & Numbers
- Madison Oelkers had an impactful night for the Warriors, going 13-18 in the faceoff circle and posting a team-best four shots on goal.
- Gabby Jones and Hannah Corneliusen put three shots on goal each, with some of the more challenging opportunities the Warriors got on the day.
- Seven of the team's 16 blocked shots came in the first period.
- The game marks the third time the Warriors have competed in the Hockey East Quarterfinals in program history, coming off the team's first playoff win in the Opening Round.
- Goaltenders: Emma Gorski (38 saves) | Aerin Frankel (18 saves)
- Power Plays: MC 0-1 | NU 4-7
- Shots on Goal: MC 4, NU 17 | MC 5, NU 17 | MC 9, NU 11 | MC 18, NU 45
- Faceoffs: 34 MC | NU 27 Blocks: 16 MC | 5 NU
Up Next
The Warriors season has concluded for 2021-22.
