AMHERST, Mass. - Sophomore Taylor Makar scored his third goal in as many games 1:12 into overtime to help lift No. 5 University of Massachusetts past Merrimack in its Hockey East opener at the Mullins Center on Friday night. The win moves to the Minutemen 5-0-1 overall and 1-0-0 in Hockey East action, while the Warriors fall to 3-3-0 overall and 1-1-0 in league play.
"We were fortunate tonight," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "I thought for two periods Merrimack out-competed us and we started to play in the third. I liked our third period and we get the lead and quickly turn it back. It was another tight game with Merrimack, every time we play them it seems to go to overtime and we were, once again, lucky to find our way on top. I thought we did a good job in overtime with our execution 3-on-3 strategy, which led to the odd-man rush. It was a frustrating game. I don't think we were ready to compete tonight and that's on me, but as the game went on, we got a little bit better, but we were fortunate to come out on top tonight."
UMass jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage as Makar swung around behind the net and centered the puck for Ryan Lautenbach for the quick strike at the 3:26 mark of the first period.
Merrimack later knotted the score at 1-1 midway through the second. Mark Hillier collected a pass from Mac Welsher and hit Trevor Griebel, who trailed the play, with a feed at the top of the slot. Greibel sent a shot towards goal that snuck past Luke Pavicich at 11:21 off a deflection in front.
The Minutemen pulled in front once more on their first power play opportunity of the night, 6:35 into the third period. Freshman Kenny Connors and sophomore Scott Morrow set up a Ryan Ufko shot from the perimeter that tucked inside the left post.
The Warriors responded, however, leveling things at 2-2 at the 7:12 mark. Alex Jefferies poked a loose puck home amidst a scrum in the UMass crease with Welsher and Adam Arvedson collecting the assists.
Then in the extra frame, Connors set up Makar on a 2-on-1 for the winning tally. Ufko earned the secondary helper on the play.
Merrimack finished the night with a 27-19 shot advantage, while UMass went 1-for-2 on the power play and a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
Pavicich finished with 25 stops and Hugo Ollas had 16 saves for the Warriors.
Makar (1g, 1a), Ufko (1g, 1a) and Connors (2a) all had multi-point games, while Morrow's assist extended his point streak to six straight.
The teams will be back in action tomorrow, October 29, when the squads will meet in North Andover in Lawler Rink at 7 p.m.
