The Huskies celebrate the first-period goal from sophomore forward Riley Hughes
Northeastern Earns Weekend Sweep With 6-3 Win At Merrimack
Sophomore forward Aidan McDonough had two goals and an assist for the Huskies

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The Merrimack College men's hockey team was unable to recover from a strong second period from #17/14 Northeastern, as the Warriors fell to the Huskies by a 6-3 final Sunday night at Lawler Rink.

A pair of freshmen found the back of the net for the home side, as Alex Jefferies scored twice in the first period and Conor Lovett tallied his second of the weekend in the third in the losing effort.


The Basics

Score: 17/14 Northeastern 6, Merrimack 3
Records: Merrimack (1-3-0, 0-2-0 HEA) | Northeastern (2-0-0, 2-0-0 HEA)
Game Duration: 2:30


How It Happened

- The Warriors were dealt a pair of early power plays and cashed in on the latter chance. Logan Drevitch won a draw to open up the man advantage back to Zach Vinnell. The sophomore sent a pass to the right point to his defense partner, Patrick Holway, who wired a seed of a pass to the left half wall. Jefferies collected the puck, then unleashed a wrist shot that beat Northeastern netminder Connor Murphy to the short side.

- Merrimack's power play struck again midway into the first on a familiar connection. Drevitch worked his way around the net in the offensive end and sent a feed to Holway at the right point. The defenseman walked in and rung a wrist shot off the post, but the rebound settled for Jefferies who deposited his second of the day into the yawning cage.

- Northeastern utilized its power play unit as well four minutes later when Riley Hughes beat Warrior starter Zachary Borgiel to cut the margin in half.

- The visitors converted with the extra skater again early in the second period when Grant Jozefek found the back of the net just over four minutes in.

- Northeastern pushed its streak of unanswered goals to four before period's end, as Zach Solow and Aidan McDonough tallied goals before the second intermission.

- The Huskies extended their lead to three while the teams skated 4-on-4 just over six minutes into the third on a Ty Jackson goal, but Merrimack responded quickly. Filip Forsmark sent a sleek backhanded pass through the slot to Lovett who fired home his second of the weekend just 19 seconds after Jackson's tally. Dominic Dockery picked up his second point of the series on the secondary assist.

- Merrimack had more chances to narrow the margin, but McDonough's empty net goal finished the scoring.


Notes & Numbers

- Jefferies leads the Warriors in goals (3) and points (5) just four games into his collegiate career. He also had seven shots on goal in the game to lead all skaters.

- Drevitch pushed his point streak to four games.

- Holway has averaged a point-per-game (one goal, three assists) in the first four games of the season.

- Borgiel finished with 18 saves.

- Jacob Modry finished a strong defensive weekend with a +1 rating.

- Dockery topped the Warriors in blocked shots with three.


Up Next

The Warriors clash with New Hampshire in another home-and-home set that starts Dec. 19 in Durham, N.H. before the teams meet up against Dec. 20 at Lawler.

Game Summary

Sunday, December 13, 2020

6
3
Game statistics
24 Shots 30
2 / 6 Power Plays 2 / 7
9 / 37 PIM 6 / 12
2-0-0 Records 1-3-0
GOAL SCORERS
Northeastern Merrimack
Alex Jefferies (2)
1st/5:07 PP
Alex Jefferies (3)
1st/10:54 PP
Riley Hughes (2)
1st/14:53 PP
Grant Jozefek (1)
2nd/4:20 PP
Zach Solow (2)
2nd/9:39
Aidan McDonough (1)
2nd/19:57  GW
Ty Jackson (1)
3rd/6:05
Conor Lovett (2)
3rd/6:24
Aidan McDonough (2)
3rd/19:09  EN
GOALTENDERS
Northeastern Merrimack
Connor Murphy
59:45, 27 Saves, 3 GA
(W, 2-0-0)

Empty Net
0:15, 0 GA
Zachary Borgiel
59:04, 18 Saves, 5 GA
(L, 1-2-0)

Empty Net
0:56, 1 GA