University of Connecticut Athletics
Men's Hockey Team Defeats Ryerson 4-3
10/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
STORRS, Conn. (October 14, 2007) - The University of Connecticut men's hockey team defeated Ryerson University 4-3 in an exhibition game on Sunday afternoon in the Mark E. Freitas Ice Forum.
The Huskies found themselves down early in the first period as Ryerson's Corey Konecny found the back of the net at 9:20. Grant Buckley and Sergei Frenkel were credited with the assists as they relayed the puck to Konecny in front of the net for the first goal of the game.
Without hesitation, UConn battled back into the game, tying the score at one with a goal by freshman Chris Spicer (Syracuse, N.Y.). Freshman Steve Bergin (Groton, Mass.) fired the puck through three Ryerson skaters to Spicer, who sent the puck into the net for the Huskies' first goal of the season.
Charles Solberg (Barrington, Ill.), the team's lone senior left the game after the first period due to a knee injury, but the Huskies kept play solid for the remainder of the game.
The second period saw eight called penalties and 25 total shots on goal, as play continued to stay neutral throughout the game. Ryerson took the lead at 9:33 in the second period with a power play goal by Kevin Day but the Huskies answered with their own power play goal as Chris Ochoa (Santa Monica, Calif.) fired a shot past Ryerson goaltender, Arawn Garbutt, to tie the game.
The third and final period of the game was a battle as 11 penalties were called, 10 of which were called on Ryerson skaters. Ryerson, again, opened up the scoring in the beginning of the period as Brent Small scored off a pass from teammates Daniel Care and Anthony Pototschink.
The Huskies, who fell behind three times during the game, came back again, tying the game at three with an unassisted power play goal by freshman Jason Krispel (Cypress, Calif.).
With the game inching closer to overtime, UConn's Justin Hernandez (Farmington Hills, Mich.) stepped up his play and fired a shot into the back of the net for the Huskies. Bergin and Krispel earned the assists for the game-winner.
Seven penalties were called on Ryerson with less than three minutes to go in the game, which gave the Huskies complete control over the momentum of play in the final minutes.
Sophomore Beau Erickson (Hinton, Iowa) recorded 22 saves in goal, while Ryerson's Garbutt had 36. The Huskies out-shot their opponent on goal, 40-25.
The 2007-08 regular season begins this Friday when the Huskies host AHA rival American International at 7:05 p.m. at the Freitas Ice Forum. They will then travel to Massachusetts to face the Minutemen on Saturday, October 20. Please note that game, which was originally scheduled for 7:00 p.m., will now be played at 4:00 p.m.
