Freshman forward Mac Welsher scored at 3:31 of overtime for the Warriors
Welsher Completes Merrimack Comeback With Overtime Goal In 4-3 Win Over Vermont
Freshman forward Mac Welsher scored at 3:31 of overtime for the Warriors

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - For the second night in a row, the Merrimack College men's hockey team thrived under pressure in an incredible 4-3 overtime win over Vermont Saturday night at Lawler Rink.

Down by two goals with time winding down in the third period, Mac Welsher and Logan Drevitch tied the game late to send the game into overtime. In the extra session, Welsher netted his second of the night to cap an unbelievable victory over the Catamounts.


The Basics

Score: Merrimack 4, Vermont 3 (OT)
Records: Merrimack (6-16-3, 4-8-3 HEAM) | Vermont (3-16-4, 0-12-2 HEAM)
Game Duration: 2:28
Attendance: 2,133


How It Happened

- Merrimack got the start it was looking for in the first period. Seven minutes into the frame, Tyler Irvine sent a pass forward in the neutral zone to Ben Brar. The freshman entered the zone, then dropped a feed for Sami Tavernier. The senior held the puck and eluded a pair of defenders, before he unleashed a wrist shot in the high slot that beat Catamount goalie, Stefanos Lekkas, low to the glove side.

- The Catamounts leveled the score at one just over seven minutes later when Carter Long tucked home a rebound past Warrior goalie Troy Kobryn.

- Both teams traded odd-man rushes in the second period, but Vermont got the better of it when it potted a pair to take a 3-1 lead into the second break.

- Vermont held the Warriors off the board for the first 13 minutes of the third frame, but then Merrimack showed a flair for the dramatic once again. The epic comeback began on the power play when Patrick Holway fired a shot towards goal that was sensationally tipped in the slot by Welsher into the back of the net.

- Merrimack got another power play with just over two minutes left in the game and pulled Kobryn for an extra skater. The Warriors had great chances on the power play, but could not convert. Then, with just moments left in the game, the Warriors did it again. Irvine dug the puck out of the corner and got it to Declan Carlile. The defenseman walked to center point, then slid a pass back to Logan Drevitch, who uncorked a game-tying slap shot with ten seconds to play.

- For the second night in a row, overtime was needed, but Saturday's affair didn't need the full five minutes. Merrimack held the zone with under two minutes to play. Chase Gresock found himself with space below the goal line, then fed Welsher in front, who snapped home the game-winner.


Notes & Numbers

- Welsher's two-goal game was the first of his career.

- Tavernier is now on a three-game point streak and has seven points in his last five games.

- Kobryn finished the night with 20 saves in the winning effort.

- Welsher finished with a game-high six shots on goal.

- Holway now has points in his last three games and has a goal and three assists during that stretch.

- Irvine now has three straight multi-point games and has multiple points in four of his last five games.


Up Next

The Warriors head to Orono, Maine next weekend for a two-game set against Maine. The series opens with a Friday night showdown at Aflond Arena with a puck drop of 7:30 pm.

Game Summary

Saturday, January 25, 2020

3
4
Game statistics
23 Shots 28
0 / 5 Power Plays 1 / 5
8 / 16 PIM 8 / 16
3-16-4 Records 6-16-3
GOAL SCORERS
Vermont Merrimack
Sami Tavernier (5)
1st/7:04
Carter Long (1)
1st/14:11  DP
Bryce Misley (2)
2nd/12:22
Thomas Beretta (2)
2nd/15:14
Mac Welsher (4)
3rd/13:54 PP
Logan Drevitch (6)
3rd/19:50.3  EA
Mac Welsher (5)
OT/3:31  GW
GOALTENDERS
Vermont Merrimack
Stefanos Lekkas
63:04, 24 Saves, 4 GA
(L, 3-15-4)

Empty Net
0:27, 0 GA
Troy Kobryn
61:28, 20 Saves, 3 GA
(W, 2-7-1)

Empty Net
2:03, 0 GA