NORTHEASTERN SHUTS OUT MERRIMACK, 2-0
Freshman Brad Thiessen posts first career shutout with 30 saves

NORTH ANDOVER, MA – Brad Thiessen made 30 saves for his first-career shutout and Chad Costello and Chris Donovan scored second-period goals to lead Northeastern to a 2-0 win over Merrimack College in Hockey East action Saturday night at Lawler Arena.

The Huskies ran their unbeaten steak against the Warriors (1-12-1, 1-8-1 Hockey East) to eight games (5-0-3) and improved to 4-8-2 on the season (2-7-2 Hockey East).

The two teams staked to a scoreless tie at the end of 20 minutes of play. The Warriors outshot the Huskies 10-6 and went 0-1 on the power play while NU failed on two attempts.

Costello broke the tie with his sixth goal of the season at 10:53 of the second period. Andrew Linard started the play with a breakout pass from his own end to Jimmy Russo, who sent the puck in front of the net to Costello.

NU extended the lead to 2-0 at 18:02 when Chris Donovan’s wrister from the left point went through a screen and past senior goalie Jim Healey (Holyrood, N.F.) for his third goal of the year. Dennis McCauley and Rob Rassey picked up assists on the play. Healey finished the night with 23 saves.

The Warriors outshot the Huskies 30-25 on the evening and the two teams combined for 29 penalties and 99 penalty minutes. Merrimack went to the box 14 times (47 minutes) while the Huskies were sent off 15 times (52 minutes). Each team failed to score a power-play goal, however, as MC went 0-for-5 and Northeastern 0-for-6.

The Warriors return to action Tuesday night when they host UMass at 7 p.m.