ORONO, ME. - Sophomore Joey Muldowney scores all four goals as the UConn men's hockey team upsets no.5 Maine Friday evening at Alfond Arena. In the opening game of a two-game road trip, the Huskies offense shined, while junior Tyler Muszelik made 26 saves in the victory.
The first period was a physical period with both teams looking to find the early goal to get momentum on their side. Maine had the first opportunity following a UConn penalty, but the Huskies penalty kill stood strong denying the Black Bears from jumping out to the early lead. Following the UConn penalty, UConn's speed was on display, skating past the Maine defensemen. The Huskies speed caused problems for the Maine defense and with that the Black Bears were forced to take a penalty to prevent a UConn breakaway. While on the power play, sophomore Joey Muldowney found the back of the net for the fourth time in the last five games, to give UConn the 1-0 lead. Maine would eventually find the equalizer with just under three minutes remaining in the period off a redirection.
The second period, UConn jumped out to a 2-1 lead just under two minutes into the start of the period. The Huskies forecheck continued to shine, as the Huskies forced a turnover Joey Muldowney collected the loose puck and took it himself firing the puck short side past the Maine netminder for his second goal of the game giving UConn the 2-1 lead. With the 2-1 lead, UConn's defense rose to the challenge, preventing Maine from finding the equalizer in the second period. With time expiring in the second period, Maine was called for boarding giving UConn the power play to begin the third period.
The third period was the Joey Muldowney show as the sophomore scored two goals to secure the UConn victory. Early in the third period Maine tied the game at two as Nolan Renwick skated coast to coast and fired the puck past Tyler Muszelik for the goal. From that point on, Joey Muldowney and the Huskies took over. Eight minutes into the third period, Muldowney took the past from Hudson Schandor and fired it past the Maine netminder for his third goal of the night to give UConn the 3-2 lead. With the one goal lead, junior Tyler Muszelik and the Huskies defense shined, limiting Maine's chances and preventing them from finding the tying goal. With time running down in the third period, Maine pulled the goaltender in favor of an extra skater, and with 17 seconds remaining Joey Muldowney scored his fourth goal of the night to secure the 4-2 victory. Junior Tyler Muszelik made 26 saves while just allowing two goals in the victory.
UP NEXT:
UConn will wrap up the two game road trip vs. Maine tomorrow Saturday January 18. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+ with puck drop at 7pm.
