BURLINGTON, Vt. - Onni Leppänen scored 1:08 into the third period to break a 1-1 tie as the Long Island Sharks (8-5-1) continued their best start to a season in program history with a 3-2 win over Vermont (3-8-3) Friday night from Gutterson Fieldhouse in non-conference action.
COACH'S QUOTE
"I'm not sure when it's going to click for these players, but every play matters," said Head Coach Stephen Wiedler. "It's a tie game in the third period you can't miss a backcheck. You don't have the luxury of missing a back check, which we did. We give up 17 shots and three goals against, that also can't happen. I feel we're perimeter on offense right now. The inches we need for wins are all around us. We need to start grabbing them."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Sharks opened the scoring 5:01 into the opening frame on their first power play attempt of the game. Chris Pappas took a shot from the top of the slot that was blocked by a UVM defender with an active stick. Unfortunately, the bouncing puck went right to LIU's Josh Zary and he tapped it home before Axel Mangbo could recover. It was just the fourth time a team has scored with the man advantage on UVM this year.
- Vermont tied things up 3:20 into the middle frame with a seeing-eye point shot from Luca Münzenberger. With four bodies in front of the net LIU's Ty Outen never saw the wrist shot from the senior defenseman before it found the corner for his third goal of the season. Will Zapernick and Philip Törnqvist earned assists on the tally.
- Leppänen broke the tie for the Sharks early in the third period. On a transition rush Mangbo made a great save on Riley Wallack but he got his own rebound over to Leppänen for a bang-bang play that gave LIU a 2-1 edge.
- With a little over two minutes to play in the third the Catamounts pulled their goalie for the extra attacker on an offensive zone faceoff. Connor Gregga won the faceoff back to Andrius Kulbis-Marino and his clearing attempt bounced off the boards in the neutral zone and found the back of the net with 2:15 to play.
- With exactly a minute to play and the Catamounts net empty again Vermont struck to make it a one-goal game again. From the side of the net Max Strand sniped the top corner with 1:00 to play to make it 3-2. Philip Törnqvist and Sebastian Törnqvist earned assists on the play.
- Vermont had 14 shots in the third period but couldn't find the back of the net again for the equalizer.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- First Year Max Strand continues to lead the team in scoring with three goals and eight assists for 11 points.
- Tonight was Philip Törnqvist's second career multi-point effort.
- Simon Jellus and Jax Wismer were tied for the team-lead with four shots apiece Friday night.
- Redshirt First Year Matt Cato made his collegiate debut Friday night.
- With tonight's 3-2 decision, Community Bank N.A. will donate $150 to Special Olympics Vermont. Community Bank, N.A. donates $75 per goal to Special Olympics Vermont for every goal the men's and women's team scores this season.
UP NEXT
The Catamounts and Sharks are back at it tomorrow night at 6 p.m. from Gutterson Fieldhouse. Saturday is Vermont Construction Company Night. Vermont Construction Company (VCC) will be running two giveaways at their table in the Gutterson lobby for fans to enter to win. Fans can submit their name for a chance to win a brand-new Blackstone AND a free new roof courtesy of VCC. Drawing for the free roof will be spring 2025. VCC will also be offering one lucky fan the chance to win a four pack of ski passes to Smugglers' Notch Resort.
The action will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan on the call. As always, it will also be broadcast live on WVMT (96.3 FM/620 AM) with the voice of the Catamounts Adam Lafleur in the Handy Toyota Broadcast Booth.
