2 weeks Ago
It looked like the UMass hockey team was heading toward a loss in the final minutes of its Hockey East opener against UConn on Friday. The Minutemen trailed the Huskies 3-2 with under one minute to go, forcing UMass coach Greg Carvel to pull Michael Hrabel from goal for the extra attacker. Aydar Suniev made sure the Minutemen didn’t go home without at least a point.
The sophomore tied the game with 17 seconds to play off assists from Lucas Olvestad and Lucas Mercuri, sending the game to overtime tied 3-3. Following a scoreless overtime period, action went to a shootout. UMass’ Dans Locmelis and UConn’s Kaden Shahan each converted the opening shootout tries but the next six rounds, neither team was able to put one in the back of the net.
Jake Percival missed the Huskies’ eighth attempt and Mercuri converted on the other end for the Minutemen, with UMass picking up the extra point toward the Hockey East standings following the shootout win. UConn’s Ethan Whitcomb opened the scoring just 3:31 into the contest but five minutes later, the Minutemen knotted the score after Francesco Dell'Elce found the back of the net off an assist from Mercuri. With 2:53 to go in the first, Shahan scored to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead after one period.
UMass’ Cole O’Hara tallied 39 seconds into the second period off a dish from Jack Musa, tying the game at two. UConn’s Ryan Tattle gave the Huskies the lead with 51 seconds to go in the second period. Article continues after.
.. Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess Hrabel made 20 saves for the Minutemen while Tyler Muszelik stopped 30 shots for UConn.
The teams play against Saturday in Storrs, Conn..
