Durham, NH - The Merrimack College men's ice hockey team only led for the final ten minutes but scored five times to take the topsy turvy 5-4 win and complete the season sweep against the New Hampshire Wildcats on Saturday night.
Merrimack (12-15-1, 8-9-1): 5, New Hampshire (11-11-3, 3-11-2): 4
A wild first period saw the Wildcats strike for the first two goals of the game within four minutes of each other, but the Warriors would hit back for two of their own as Michael Emerson carried the puck from his own zone, and snapped the shot top shelf for the goal. Merrimack would get the game back to level terms shortly after as Trevor Griebel found Hunter Wallace on a cross ice pass and Wallace powered the shot in for his first Warriors goal. New Hampshire however held the lead through the opening twenty after a powerplay goal in the final three minutes.
Merrimack tied the game at three early in the second period thanks to a great individual effort by Hunter Wallace for his second goal of the game, as he picked off the puck from in close and jammed his shot home. New Hampshire would sting the Warriors once more in a non five on five situation as they scored a shorthanded goal to take the lead into the third.
Merrimack leveled the game for the third time in the evening as Zach Bookman's pass found a speeding Ty Daneault who protected the puck behind the UNH net and found Vann Yuhas on the post who slammed it home to tie the score at four. Merrimack took the lead for good just before the ten minute mark as Zach Bookman's point shot was tipped in the high slot by David Sacco for his ninth goal of the season. Merrimack would hold off the Wildcats from there to capture the victory.
Notes and Numbers:
- Hunter Wallace found the net for his first two Warriors goals.
- Michael Emerson, Vann Yuhas, David Sacco also scored.
- Antonio Venuto and Zach Bookman had two assists each.
- Trevor Griebel, Josef Mysak, Luke Weilandt and Ty Daneault all had an assist each.
- Max Lundgren made double digit saves in every period, tallying an even 30 in total
UP NEXT:
The Warriors head home as they host the Vermont Catamounts for the first of two at Lawler on Friday, February 14th at 7 PM.
