Patrick Casey – Sports Writer
Photo – Nate Tacey
NORTH ANDOVER, Ma – The 1-2-1 Merrimack Warriors hosted the UMass Lowell Riverhawks (3-1) on a Saturday night Hockey East matchup at Lawler Rink. The Warriors were looking to build momentum off of their shootout victory against UNH a week prior.
The Riverhawks, however, had other plans for their first hockey east opponent of the year.
THE RECAP
The puck dropped and for a while it seemed like both teams really settled in defensively. That was until Merrimack’s second line found themselves on a 3 on 2 entering the Riverhawk zone. Thanks to a great weave, a lane opened for sophomore Michael Emerson. The Carolina draft pick fired one through UML goaltender Henry Welsch to put the Warriors up 1-0, tallying the first collegiate goal of his career.
Not 2 minutes later, thanks to a Josef Mysak penalty, The Riverhawks built some momentum. Center Dillian Bentley snuck one past Warrior goaltender Ryan Keyes right as the penalty expired and the game was tied at 1.
Shortly after that, what looked like a great shift by MC’s 4th line turned into a puck race in the neutral zone in which UML winger Chris Delaney won. He beat Nick Pierre off the edge and put one over the shoulder of Keyes making it a 2-1 game.
The second was very similar to the opening frame where both teams were not allowing a tone of offense. That is until the boys in blue went back to their scorching hot power-play. This time, it was Isaac Johnson with a rocket one-timer that beat Keyes to make it 3-1.
Finally the warriors would get their first crack at a power play thanks to a Lee Parks tripping penalty. It was extra defenseman Trevor Griebel who found the back of the net for a powerplay goal to make it 3-2.
But it would not last long as UML’s Connor Eddy struck right back. A fourth goal allowed resulted in a goaltender change for Merrimack. Ryan Keyes was benched for sophomore Max Lundgren.
Late in the second the Warriors struck gold on the powerplay again. Caelan Fitzpatrick made it 4-3 on a one-timer for his first collegiate goal.
Coach Borek’s response on the success of his teams power-play was a positive outlook from the game, “It was good, they made a nice adjustment and they executed it very well. Getting those two power play goals were a monkey off the back for everybody, especially the guys on the unit.” Merrimack was 0 for 8 on the man-advantage heading into this game.
Third period began and Merrimack, understandably, started to press a little bit more which created chances in both directions. After a hand pass in the neutral zone by the Warriors, UML had an offensive zone faceoff in their favor. A shot from the point, rebound out front, and Owen Cole present in the slot, potted the puck to make it a 5-3 game. A disaster scenario played out perfectly for the Riverhawks.
Merrimack continued to create chances off the rush but nothing resulted in success. An Ian Carpentier empty net goal made it 6-3, the final.
The clock struck 0 and UML took home a 6-3 victory, moving to a 4-1 record and 1-0 in Hockey East play. Merrimack fell to 1-3-1 and will start preparing for two games in Maine on Halloween weekend.
“They just played a really mature game,” Said Head Coach Scott Borek, “Lowell is obviously a very good team, they just out-matured us and we need to grow up fast.” Borek emphasized maturity a couple of times in his post game presser and along with that, noted the tough task on the road next weekend.
“Our most important thing is just growing up. Lowell gave us a great lesson tonight and we are going to play a team next weekend that we need to do that as well,” Borek emphasized, “So the good news is you get better in these games, so well continue to improve and give it a rip next weekend”
The Warriors will look to bounce back up at Orono against UMaine this coming weekend.
