University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Merrimack
Krispel Scores In Loss at Merrimack
10/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 16, 2010
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The University of Connecticut men's hockey team suffered a 7-1 defeat at Merrimack tonight in non-conference action. The Huskies see their overall record fall to 0-1-1 while Merrimack improves to 1-0-1 after two games. Senior Jason Krispel (Cypress, Calif.) scored the lone goal for Connecticut 12 seconds into the second period. Merrimack put home five goals in the second period to pull ahead for good.
The Huskies earned their first power play 18 seconds into the action. UConn knocked on the door early as sophomore Grant Scott's (Swickley, Pa.) shot from the right face-off circle was saved by Merrimack goaltender Joe Cannata. The rebound slid dangerously through the slot but the Huskies were unable to jump on the loose puck.
The Warriors got on the board first at 12:18 when Elliott Sheen jammed home the rebound on the right side of the net after a Ryan Flanigan shot from the slot.
Merrimack nearly took a 2-0 lead with only 50 seconds remaining when the Warriors came into the UConn zone with a two-on-one rush. Merrimack's Shawn Bates found time in the slot and looked to deke past UConn goaltender Garrett Bartus (St. Charles, Ill.) towards his backhand but the UConn goalie sprawled to keep the score at 1-0.
The two teams finished the period with seven shots on frame.
UConn came out of the locker room and quickly evened the score just 12 seconds in. With Cannata attempting to play the puck behind the Merrimack cage, junior Daniel Naurato (Northville, Mich.) picked the goaltender's pocket, poking the puck through the crease. Krispel one-timed the feed past by Cannata for his first goal of the season. The assist was Naurato's first point of the year as well.
The Huskies failed to break the Warrior defense the rest of the period as Merrimack poured in five goals to make it 6-1 after 40 minutes.
Merrimack's sophomore standout and reigning NCAA and Hockey East Rookie of the Year Stephane Da Costa put Merrimack up, 2-1, with an impressive individual effort at 3:29. Da Costa stick-handled through the left face-off circle before lifting a backhand over the right shoulder of Bartus.
The Warriors went ahead, 3-1, with a one-timer from Chris Barton in the slot, assisted by Joe Cucci, at 6:02.
Merrimack added three more in the second with goals from Cucci at 10:41 and another from De Costa into the top-right corner at 12:52. Rhett Bly finished the second-period flurry with his tally at 15:55.
After two periods, Merrimack held the edge in shots, 22-17.
Freshman Rob Behling (Pittsburgh, Pa.) came in for Bartus late in the second period and limited the Warriors to one goal while compiling 24 saves in 24:01 of ice time.
Merrimack finished the scoring with a Carter Madsen goal at 6:07 of the third period.
For the game, Merrimack held the edge in shots, 40-25.
UConn is in action next when it travels to Army for the opening Atlantic Hockey contest of the season on Saturday, October 23. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.
