| Prd | Time | Team | Score | Type | Scored By | Assists |
| 1st | 2:26 | UNH | 1-0 | EV | Shane Eiserman (5) | Liam Blackburn/10 |
| 1st | 9:22 | UNH | 2-0 | PP | Liam Blackburn (9) | Eric MacAdams/3, Michael McNicholas/19 |
| 1st | 17:31 | MER | 1-2 | EV | Johnathan Kovacevic (2) | Jackson Bales/1, Patrick Kramer/2 |
| 1st | 19:59 | MER | 2-2 | EV | Ryan Cook (2) | Logan Coomes/5, Marc Biega/5 |
| 2nd | 7:27 | MER | 3-2 | PP GW | Cole McBride (5) | Derek Petti/6, Johnathan Kovacevic/13 |
| Scoring | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Merrimack | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Shots on Goal | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | SOG |
| New Hampshire | 16 | 16 | 4 | 36 |
| Merrimack | 10 | 16 | 8 | 34 |
| Team Stats and Records | PP | PIM | SHGF |
| New Hampshire (10-16-6) | 1/3 | 5/21 | 0 |
| Merrimack (9-17-4) | 1/3 | 5/10 | 0 |
| New Hampshire Goaltending | MIN | GA | 1 | 2 | 3 | Saves |
| Mike Robinson (L, 0-2-0) | 58:16 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 8 | 31 |
| Empty Net | 1:44 | 0 |
| Merrimack Goaltending | MIN | GA | 1 | 2 | 3 | Saves |
| Craig Pantano (W, 8-10-2) | 59:48 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 4 | 34 |
| Empty Net | 0:12 | 0 |
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The Merrimack College men's ice hockey team rallied from two goals down for an important 3-2, come-from-behind victory against the University of New Hampshire on Friday night at Lawler Rink. The win capped off a season series sweep against the Wildcats, which was the first in a regular season in program history.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 3, New Hampshire 2
Records: Merrimack (9-17-4, 6-13-2 HEA) | New Hampshire (10-16-6, 5-12-5 HEA)
Location: Lawler Rink | North Andover, Mass.
Attendance: 2386
Game Duration: 2:12
Rapid Recap
- New Hampshire got out to a hot start, taking a lead less than three minutes in and doubling it before the halfway point of the period. But the Warriors fought back to tie it with goals from Johnathan Kovacevic and Ryan Cook, with the latter coming with just 0.6 seconds on the clock, to make it a tie game after 20 minutes.
- The Warriors would push ahead on their first power play of the night, as sophomore Cole McBride made it a 3-2 affair in favor of the hosts midway through the second, and that score went unchanged through the remainder of the frame.
- Both sides combined for only 12 shots in the third after combining for 58 in the opening two periods, as the hosts yielded only four to the Wildcats in the final stanza to clinch the win.
Scoring Summaries
Goal #1 (UNH, 0-1): UNH grabbed an early lead off a broken play after Shame Eiserman netted his fifth of the year 2:26 into the contest. After a blocked shot in the defensive zone by Liam Blackburn, Eiserman took a pass and got behind the defense before scoring short side on a 2-on-1 rush.
Goal #2 (UNH, 0-2): The Wildcats doubled their lead on the power play at 9:22 of the first, with Liam Blackburn netting his ninth. Michael McNicholas tapped the puck at the left wall to the stick of MacAdams, who brought it to the slot and sent a backhand pass to Blackburn for a tap-in at the weak side post.
Goal #3 (MC, 1-2): Kovacevic brought the Warriors within a goal after finding the twine for the second time at 17:31 of the first. Sophomore Patrick Kramer and Jackson Bales worked the puck along the left wing boards out to Kovacevic, whose wrist shot from the high slot beat UNH goaltender Mike Robinson glove side.
Goal #4 (MC, 2-2): Cook beat the buzzer with only 0.6 seconds left on the first-period clock to get the Warriors even on his second goal of the year. Senior Marc Biega took the puck at the right point and shoveled it to his left. Sophomore Logan Coomes furthered the puck along to Cook, who ripped a one-timer from straightaway center and watched it find its way past Robinson for the equalizer.
Goal #5 (MC, 3-2): Sophomore Cole McBride put the hosts ahead 7:27 into the second period with the Warriors on a power play, lighting the lamp for the fifth time in the process. Junior Derek Petti picked off a clearing pass and skated into the far circle before finding McBride at the bottom of the near circle.
Notes and Notables
- Merrimack improved to 25-74-11 against UNH and 4-4-1 in the last nine meetings.
- Cook's goal was his second of the year and first since Oct. 28 against UMass; Kovacevic's was also his second and first since Nov. 3 against Boston College, and McBride's goal was his first since Oct. 12 against Connecticut.
- Bales notched his first collegiate point on Friday night, while Petti's assist was his eighth point of his career against UNH.
- Merrimack improved to 5-12-0 when allowing the first goal and moved to 8-2-2 when scoring three-plus goals on the year.
- Goaltenders: Craig Pantano (34 saves, 8-10-2) // Mike Robinson (31 saves, 0-2-0)
- Power Plays: Merrimack (1-3) | New Hampshire (1-3)
- Shots on Goal (MC-UNH): 10-16 // 16-16 // 8-4 - 34-36
Merrimack Lineup
Forwards
Hennig | L. Larsson | McBride
Seney | Petti | Tavernier
Babcock | A. Larsson | Irvine
Coomes | Kramer | Bales
Defense
Kolquist | Titcomb
Biega | Cook
Kovacevic | Carle
Goaltenders
Pantano | Vogler | Halladay
Up Next
Merrimack will return to Lawler Rink to conclude its season series with Boston University tomorrow night, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.