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Junior forward Alex Jefferies posted a goal and two assists for the Warriors
Jefferies Three Points Lift Merrimack Past UConn, 7-3
Junior forward Alex Jefferies posted a goal and two assists for the Warriors

Box Score

The Merrimack men's ice hockey team exploded for four goals in the second period, and seven in the evening, as they steamrolled the Connecticut Huskies by a score of 7-3, to emphatically earn a weekend split in a battle of two top 20 ranked teams.

12/12 Merrimack (11-4-0, 7-2-0): 7, 8/8 Connecticut, (11-4-1, 8-3-2): 3

Attendance: 3,846

The Warriors fell behind early as Connecticut took the lead only 3:06 into the game.

The Warriors would get back on level terms as Matt Copponi once again, scored the first goal of the evening for the Warriors to tie the game up at 16:51 of the first period.

In the second, the Warriors were able to force a offensive zone turnover, and Will Calverley picked out a wide open Ryan Leibold to give the Warriors the lead.

Ben Brar would extend the lead to two as he muscled his way to the net and roofed it on the back hand to make the score 3-1.

The Huskies however, would cut the lead right back to one almost immediately thereafter.

The lead would be back to two as Alex Jefferies, would be left all alone in the slot on the power-play, and he would cash in for his second goal in two games. 

But once again this period was like a track meet as Connecticut would score less than two minutes later.

Merrimack would be given a five on three PowerPlay, and once again make the Huskies pay as Mark Hillier scored from the top of the slot to re-extend the lead again, this would be the warriors fourth goal of the period and they would carry a 5-3 lead into the final 20 minutes.

With Connecticut pushing down to end with a powerplay to open the final frame, Zachary Borgiel made two incredible saves on the doorstep to keep the lead at two.

Merrimack continued to push for more as almost midway through the third, Zach Bookman would get the puck at the point and have an amazing individual effort finishing on his forehand with a fantastic highlight reel goal to double up the Huskies with 12 minutes to go.

Jordan Seyfert would put the capper on this one, as he scored the empty net goal with 2:21 to go.


Notes and Numbers

Ottoville Leppanen had three assists, and he has seven points in his last three games.

The Warriors had seven different goal scorers on the night.

Zachary Borgiel made 33 saves and is now a perfect 6-0-0 this season.

The Warriors have scored five goals or more in six of their 11 wins.

This is the Warriors third win over a ranked opponent this season.


Stats:

Powerplays: MC: 2-6 | UCONN: 1-5

Shots on Goal: MC 9, UCONN 11 | MC 13, UCONN 9 | MC 4, UCONN, 16 | MC 26, UCONN 27

Faceoffs: 31 MC | 36 UCONN

Blocks: 8 MC | UCONN 7


Up Next:

The Warriors stay on the road as they get set to play the UMass Minutemen on Wednesday December 7th for the third and final time in regular season. Puck drop for that game is set for 7 PM. The game can also be seen on ESPN plus.