NO. ANDOVER, Mass. - Mikyla Grant-Mentis rifled the game-winning goal midway through overtime to seal the come-from-behind win against Maine, 4-3 in overtime on Friday. The goal was Grant-Mentis' 100th career point and second in the game.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 4, Maine 3
Records: Merrimack (3-7-2, 1-5-2 HEAW) | Maine (3-4-2, 1-3-1 HEAW)
Location: Lawler Rink | North Andover, Mass.
How It Happened
Teams skated through a scoreless first period, with Merrimack putting 6 shots on goal, while Lea-Kristine Demers made 10 saves on Maine shots.
Maine scored the first goal of the game 30 seconds into the second period, giving the Black Bears the first of their two leads of the game.
Grant-Mentis handled an errant pass from center, cutting into the zone through one of her defenders before pulling out wide and roofing the puck for her sixth straight game with a goal.
The Black Bears punched throw a pair of goals in the second, giving them a 3-1 lead going into the final period.
Dani Castino scored her second in three games to start the Warriors comeback. On the power play, Grant-Mentis fired in a laser from the point, and Castino handled the defensive pressure down low to snap off a shot through traffic and in to make it 3-2.
Sophomore Kiki Roust tied the game with five minutes to go, planting herself unmarked in the crease, where she handled a puck kicked out from behind the net to tie it.
In overtime, Grant-Mentis handled a stretch pass from Gabby Jones in the defensive zone, taking the puck at center and shoveling through three defenders to break in on goal. She took the space in close, faking right to get the goaltender to commit before throwing it in near side.
Notes & Numbers
- Grant-Mentis is the second player in Merrimack women's ice hockey history to reach the 100 point milestone. Katelyn Rae ('19) reached the milestone against Boston University on Jan. 25, 2019. In 116 career games played as a Warrior, Grant-Mentis has scored 46 goals and 54 assists.
- Kiki Roust's goal in the third was the first for the defender in her Merrimack career.
- Goaltenders: Lea-Kristine Demers (33 saves, 2-6-2) // Loryn Porter (24 saves, 2-2-1)
- Power Plays: 1-3 | 1-6
- Shots on Goal: 6-10 // 4-12 // 17-13 - 28-36
- Faceoffs: 22 // 32
- Blocks: 11 // 14
Up Next
Merrimack take on a home-and-home with Holy Cross, traveling to Worcester on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7:05 p.m. with the game available locally on NESNplus, before returning home for a 6 p.m. puck drop on Friday, Nov. 15.
