AMHERST, Mass. - No. 12/10 University of Massachusetts hockey rode a 2-0 start to a 3-1 victory over UConn in front of a crowd of 6,342 at the Mullins Center on Saturday night. With the win, the Minutemen improve to 16-7-3 on the season, 9-5-2 in Hockey East, while the Huskies drop to 12-15-2 overall and 7-11-1 in league play.
"There are no easy games in our league and sweeps are really hard to come by," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "I'm very proud of our team and our effort. It was a really solid game again. Our defensive game continues to be getting tighter and stronger. A big part of that is Michael Hrabal. Michael is really starting to look comfortable in the net. When you go to World Juniors, it takes a lot out of you, and I knew it would take a little time for him and Dans Locmelis to get back up to speed but it sure looks like Michael is getting there. Really, I like a group right now. We've got four solid lines, we're solid in the back end and our goaltender is playing exceptional hockey."
After having a goal called back for goaltender interference early, UMass ultimately broke through at the 8:03 mark of the first. Freshman Cam O'Neill was at the net front to redirect home a shot from the right point from Samuli Niinisaari who received the puck from his defensive partner Scott Morrow.
The Minutemen then doubled their advantage 7:06 into the second period when freshman Aydar Suniev blasted a shot from the left faceoff circle past Ethan Haider off a feed up the ice from Morrow and junior Lucas Mercuri.
The Huskies took one of the goals back at the 11:20 mark when Matthew Wood found Ryan Tattle in the slot for a one-timer that closed the gap to 2-1.
Moments later, UMass regained its cushion as Cole O'Hara collected the puck from sophomore Kenny Connors and freshman Jack Musa along the half wall and skated to the middle of the ice to drive a shot through a screen at 13:04.
After a scoreless third, UConn ended the night with a 37-27 shot advantage and the Minutemen were 0-for-3 on the power play and did not go shorthanded in the contest.
Hrabal matched his career high in saves from Friday night's contest against the Huskies with 36 stops for a second straight night. Haider turned aside 24 between the pipes for UConn.
The Minutemen will be back in action next Friday, February 16, when the squad will play host to No. 1 Boston College at 7 p.m.
