STORRS, Conn. - The UConn men's hockey team opened the 2024-25 season with a convincing 4-2 win over Colgate. Freshman Ethan Gardula scored his first career goal, while Jake Richard, Jake Percival and Oliver Flynn all scored to secure the win.
In a new season with 14 new faces, the team did not miss a beat, jumping on the attack against Colgate from the first puck drop. The Huskies pressure eventually paid off as junior Jake Percival was able to find the back of the net to give UConn the 1-0 lead and score the first goal of the 2024-25 season. Late in the first period, Colgate was on the attack and fired a puck from the blue line that snuck past goaltender Tyler Muszelik to tie the game at one.
The Huskies bounced back in the second period as they scored two goals to take the 3-1 lead entering the third. The Huskies first goal of the period came as Tome Messineo kept the puck in the offensive zone which found the stick of sophomore Oliver Flynn who fired it past the goaltender for the Huskies second goal. The offense continued to shine as freshman Ethan Gardula notched his first career goal on the power play. Through two periods junior goaltender Tyler Muszelik made 13 saves while allowing just one goal.
The momentum gained from the first two periods carried into the third as Jake Richard scored off a redirect just under two minutes into the start of the period. Despite Colgate threatening, including pulling their goalie on the power play to create a six on four advantage, the Huskies defense shined, holding Colgate to just one goal. Late in the third, Colgate found the back of the net as the Raiders, threw the puck off the back of goaltender Tyler Muszelik which bounced in for the goal. Colgate was unable to find the back of the net following their second goal as the Huskies came away with the 4-2 victory and their first win of the 2024-25 campaign.
UConn will be back in action tomorrow to wrap up the two game series against Colgate. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 and can be streamed live on ESPN+.
