BOSTON, MA -- The Merrimack Men's Hockey team scored four first-period goals as they defeated the Stonehill Skyhawks, 9-5, at Warrior Ice Arena on Tuesday night.
Merrimack only needed 73 seconds to get on the board as Trevor Hoskin scored on a two-on-one with Nick Pierre and Justin Gill notching an assist each. Ryan O'Connell scored eight minutes later to put the Warriors up 2-0. Shortly after, Stonehill would break through on the power play, but a quick counter punch would see Joey Henneberry tipping in the shot from O'Connell. Cam Kungle scored his first goal of the season with 16 seconds left in the period off of a Michael Emerson assist to go into intermission with a 4-1 lead.
It marked the second time this season the Warriors scored four times in a period (Nov. 21 at LIU). The last time Merrimack scored nine goals in a game was on Nov. 23, 2001, when they defeated Colgate 9-5 at the Syracuse Invitational.
Stonehill got on the board in the second period, but the Warriors added to their lead when Hoskin scored his second goal of the game on the power play, and then Caelan Fitzpatrick netted a rebound for a shorthanded goal and a 6-2 Merrimack lead.
In the third period, Stonehill would score early, but the Warriors took command from there with Daniel Astapovich scoring 41 seconds later, Nick Pierre scored on the power play and Justin Gill tallied shortly after for the ninth goal of the evening. These were the eleventh goals of the season for both Pierre and Gill. Stonehill would get two more in the late going but it was too little too late as the Warriors got the 9-5 victory.
The Warriors return to Hockey East action in 10 days when they take on the Boston College Eagles at Lawler Arena on Friday, February 13. Puck Drop is at 7 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN+.
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on X, Instagram and Facebook.
