NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The No. 12 ranked UConn women's ice hockey team upended Merrimack 2-1 on the Warriors' home ice Friday night.
Freshman forward Ashley Allard knocked in her third goal of the season and senior forward Kathryn Stockdale put in her fifth goal. Also, junior Megan Warrener tied her season best in saves with 26.
The Huskies got things going early in the first period as a strong play developed from the back line. Claire Peterson would send the puck down the ice on the left side to the stick of Riley Grimley who then swiftly maneuvered around the defender to send it to Allard. Allard slid past the goalie for the left-to-right quick move at net for the bottom right corner opening. Merrimack would counter with an aggressive offense to cause UConn to go into its first penalty kill of the game; however, UConn killed the penalty.The Huskies would get a chance on a power play on a holding penalty, but the Warriors would also kill the penalty. Then, Merrimack would take a chance on its second power play of the period, but UConn again would end the penalty kill. UConn and Merrimack would keep it close in shots on target as the Warriors put up eight and the Huskies collected six. The score stayed at 1-0 after the first.
The play stayed even from both sides as shots continued to fire away at the goal in the second period. Then, Merrimack received its third power play of the game on a tripping penalty, but the Huskies killed the penalty for the third time. UConn was stopped by the strong defensive stops throughout the period, meanwhile the Warriors would pile up on shots on target with 13 in the period. Warrener stayed solid in goal and kept the shoutout going through two periods as the score stayed at 1-0 UConn.
The Huskies started out hot in the third period launching six shots on goal. UConn would earn its second power play on an interference call, but Merrimack killed it. Then, less than a minute after the power play expired, Stockdale wrapped the puck around the goal and with a slight adjustment tilted the stick at net with a behind-the-back rocket that split the goalie's legs for the second goal. Soon after, the Warriors responded to cut the deficit to one with a goal from forward Maria Lindberg. By the end of the period, UConn caught up to Merrimack's shots on goal total as the Warriors finished with 27 and UConn went on to outshoot them in the period with 11. The Huskies were just one off from matching the Warriors' shot totals. The score stayed at 2-1 for the final.
Up Next
The Huskies will head back home for their second Hockey East matchup of the weekend against Boston University in Storrs at Toscano Family Ice Forum. Puck drop is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET and can be streamed live on ESPN+.
