Massachusetts Rallies To Tie UConn, 2-2
Sophomore forward Kurt Keats scores game-tying goal for Minutemen

Sophomore forward Kurt Keats scores game-tying goal for Minutemen
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
1st 0:55  CON1-0 PP Maxim Letunov (3)Tage Thompson/5
1st 3:10  CON2-0 EV Miles Gendron (1)Evan Richardson/4, Karl El-Mir/3
2nd 7:56  UMA1-2 PP Austin Plevy (2)Ray Pigozzi/2, Steven Iacobellis/1
3rd 6:25  UMA2-2 EV GT Kurt Keats (2)Jack Suter/1
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd OT Final
Connecticut  20002
Massachusetts  01102
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd OT SOG
Connecticut  1243322
Massachusetts  2148125
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Connecticut (3-2-4)  1/6 8/16 0
Massachusetts (2-4-1)  1/8 6/12 0
Connecticut Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 OT Saves
Adam Huska (T, 1-1-2)65:002 2137123
Massachusetts Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 OT Saves
Ryan Wischow (T, 2-1-1)64:452 1043320
Empty Net0:150      

AMHERST, Mass. - Sophomore forward Kurt Keats scored at 6:25 of the third period as Massachusetts rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 tie with UConn on Friday night at Mullins Center.

THE BASICS:

RESULT: Massachusetts 2, UConn 2 (OT)
LOCATION: Mullins Center (Amherst, Mass.)
RECORDS: Massachusetts (2-4-1, 0-2-1 HEA); UConn (3-2-3, 1-1-1 HEA)

THE LEAD: University of Massachusetts hockey battled back from an early 2-0 deficit to earn its first Hockey East point of the season with a hard-fought 2-2 tie against UConn on Friday night at the Mullins Center. The Minutemen trailed 2-0 just 3:10 into the contest, but rallied with goals in the second and third periods.

FIRST PERIOD:

UConn capitalized on its first power play opportunity of the evening, scoring with the man advantage just 55 seconds into the first as Maxim Letunov flung a quick wrister past Ryan Wischow from the right faceoff circle. The Huskies quickly added another at the 3:10 mark as Evan Richardson and Karl El-Mir set up Mikes Gendron on an odd-man rush.

SECOND PERIOD:

After being out-shot, 12-2 in the first, the Minutemen turned the tables on UConn in the second with a 14-4 shot advantage. UMass used a power play midway through the frame to pull within a goal of the Huskies. Sophomore Austin Plevy slid the puck underneath goaltender Adam Huska at the 7:56 mark off a feed from seniors Ray Pigozzi and Steven Iacobellis to put the Minutemen on the board.

THIRD PERIOD:

Continuing to control play, UMass held UConn to just three shots on goal in the third and managed to net the equalizer 6:25 into the stanza. Freshman Jack Suter drove to the net with the puck and sophomore Kurt Keats completed the play by diving at a loose puck in the crease and poking it home.

OVERTIME:

Both teams had scoring opportunities in the extra period, but Huska and Wischow kept the score level at 2-2. Wischow used a diving poke check to clear the puck out of harm's way and out of the UMass zone, fending off a late OT surge by UConn.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- UMass out-shot the Huskies, 25-22, including 23-12 over the final 45 minutes of the contest. The Minutemen held the advantage over the dots, as well, winning 34 of 66 faceoffs (51.5%), led by Steven Iacobellis' 16 for 26 (61.5%) performance.

- Both teams netted power-play goals on the night with UMass finishing 1-for-7 with the man advantage and UConn 1-for-6.

- After missing four games with an illness, Pigozzi logged an assist in his return to action and has an active three-game point streak to start the year.

- Plevy netted his second goal in as many games and second power-play goal of the season. He how has an active three game point streak.

- Suter's assist marked his first of his collegiate career and second point of the season.

- Keats scored for a second straight game and now has four points in seven games on the year.

UP NEXT: UMass will travel to Merrimack on Fri., Nov. 11, for the squad's first Hockey East road game of the season. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. in North Andover.