North Andover, MA -- The Merrimack College men's ice hockey team needed overtime but they would score just twenty seconds into the sudden death period to take a 2-1 win over the Boston University Terriers in front of a raucous Lawler Arena crowd
on Friday night.
Merrimack (11-15-1, 7-9-1): 2, Boston University (15-10-1, 10-6-1): 1
In the first, Boston University scored the opening goal of the contest
at 13:44 of the period but would strike back after being awarded a powerplay as the stretch pass found
Seamus Powell who slid the puck to
Nick Pierre, who's shot snuck through the goaltender's pads to tie the game at one to end the opening period.
In the second, Merrimack killed off two penalties and
Max Lundgren made eleven saves to keep the score deadlocked at one entering the third.
In a period where faceoffs were at a minimum for the majority of the frame, the third period featured a breakneck pace, where scoring chances were exchanged constantly, but neither team was able to find the winner in regulation, sending the game to overtime.
Merrimack jumped all over the Terriers off the opening draw, winning the faceoff, and controlling the puck for a set play where
Seamus Powell's breakout pass found the blade of
Zach Bookman who beat his man to the inside and slid the puck across the crease to
Caelan Fitzpatrick who tapped in the winning goal for the Warriors and send the hometown crowd into a frenzy.
Notes and Numbers:
·
Nick Pierre scored his third of the season,
Caelan Fitzpatrick's goal was his fourth.
· Reigning Hockey East Defender of the Month
Seamus Powell had two assists.
·
Zach Bookman and
Caden Cranston had an assist each.
·
Max Lundgren had 24 saves.
· This is Merrimack's first win against Boston University since Feb. 18
th 2023.
UP NEXT: The Warriors hit the road to face the Wildcats of New Hampshire tomorrow, puck drop in Durham is set for
7 PM.
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics visit
MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.