NEW HAVEN, Conn. - James Marcou's goal with 1:01 remaining in overtime lifted No. 11 UMass to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over No. 9 Yale at Ingalls Rink on Thursday. The Minutemen were down 3-2 with 10 minutes to play in regulation before T.J. Syner netted his second goal of the season to send the game to overtime. Dan Meyers got the start in goal for UMass (8-2-0), making 28 saves. The Mass Attack will continue its road trip on Tuesday when they will travel to Gutterson Field House to take on No. 17 Vermont. Gametime is scheduled for 7 PM.
Thursday's win marks the first time since 2006 that UMass has won an overtime game on the road, and is the team's second overtime win this season. The Minutemen outshot the Bulldogs 36-31, and were 1-for-6 on the power play. The Bulldogs (2-2-2) were 1-for-7 on the power play, snapping UMass' streak of 17 straight penalty kills.
While the Minutemen carried the play and outchanced Yale throughout the first period, it was the Bulldogs who capitalized on one of their chances to take an early 1-0 lead. Near the midway mark of the period, Denny Kearney netted his first goal of the season off a faceoff. The puck was drawn to the hashmarks in the slot, where it angled off a Minuteman skate and right onto Kearney's stick. He then rifled a shot over Meyers' glove for the score.
Massachusetts had several chances to bring the score back to even, outshooting Yale 10-7. The Minutemen were also awarded two power plays during the opening frame, but their best scoring opportunity came while UMass was shorthanded. T.J. Syner, playing in his first game since October 31, hit the post on his second breakaway of the night, but the play resulted in a Yale penalty.
UMass began finishing on their chances during the second period, scoring twice to take a 2-1 lead heading into intermission. Michael Marcou scored his second goal of the season six minutes into the period off a pass from Brett Watson. After Watson received a pass from Chase Langeraap, Watson saucered a pass over to Marcou at the right faceoff dot, and he buried it through Maricic to tie the score.
Casey Wellman gave the Minutemen their first lead of the game three minutes after the Marcou goal with UMass' first power play tally in four games. Massachusetts was on a five-on-three man advantage when James Marcou sent a pass from the faceoff dot up to Justin Braun at the point. Braun faked a shot then slid the puck over to Wellman at the opposite faceoff circle, who then wristed a quick shot past Maricic for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
Yale never let up in the period, however, throwing 10 shots on Meyers. Mark Arcobello nearly had his second goal of the year with seven minutes to play in the frame when he threw the puck on goal from just inside the blueline. Meyers struck the puck with his glove, and it fluttered over him before landing right on top of the net. Andrew Miller almost had a goal of his own with two minutes left in the period when he hit the left post on a shot.
While the Bulldogs netted two quick goals in just over a minute during the third period, UMass responded with a goal from Syner to bring it back to even and force overtime. With Yale on the power play, Sean Backman got his fifth goal of the season after a scramble in front. Meyers was forced to make a couple saves before Backman was able to pound home a loose puck. It was the first power play goal UMass has allowed in 17 shorthanded situations.
The Bulldogs made it 3-2 just 70 seconds later after Massachusetts failed to clear the puck out of the defensive zone. Miller and Broc Little went in two-on-one, and Little one-timed the puck past the sprawling Meyers for the goal.
The line of Syner, David Boehm and Rocco Carzo tied the score for the Minutemen at the midway mark of the period. Carzo battled in the neutral zone to chip the puck to Boehm heading into the Yale end. Boehm sent a pass across to Syner cutting hard to the net for the goal.
Both teams had several legitimate scoring chances throughout the overtime period, but with 1:01 left Marcou netted the game-winning tally. After Marcou avoided a check from a Yale defender, he skated into the slot and through a low shot on goal, and the puck deflected off Bulldog defenseman Jimmy Martin and past Maracic for the score.