University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Mercyhurst
Jendras Hat Trick Leads UConn Past Mercyhurst, 5-2
3/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
March 11, 2011
Storrs, Conn. - In the first of a best-of-three series against Mercyhurst in the AHA Quarterfinals at Freitas Ice Forum, junior forward Corey Jendras notched his first-career hat trick to lead UConn to a 5-2 victory.
Sophomore goaltender Garrett Bartus made 29 saves as No. 6 UConn improves to 14-17-4. Mercyhurst goaltender Ryan Zapolski stopped 21 shots in the losing effort. No. 7 Mercyhurst falls to 15-17-4. Another victory for UConn in the second game of the series tomorrow night at Freitas will send UConn into the AHA Semifinals at RIT on Friday, March 18.
Jendras gave UConn the momentum early in the first period with a perfectly placed wrist shot to give UConn a 1-0 lead. After taking passes from seniors Jeff Sapieha and Stevie Bergin, Jendras took two strides into the offensive zone and ripped a shot to the far post past Zapolski.
"Coach is always telling me to shoot more. Tonight I was basically trying to shoot it every time really. I mean, you have to shoot the puck to score and tonight they were going in," said Jendras.
Jendras added his second of the night at 5:27 of the second period when he flicked home a loose puck on the left side of the net following a shot from Tom Janosz at the right point. Freshman Brant Harris also assisted on the play.
"I think we got the momentum tonight and hopefully it carries over to tomorrow. It means a lot for us to be at home, it's a great feeling to keep the season going," said Jendras.
Mercyhurst got back into the game with a goal from John Mousso at 6:33. Mousso slapped home a shot from the left face-off circle to make it 2-1.
Mousso evened the score with a short-handed tally at 18:37. Mousso came in on Bartus all alone and beat the UConn goaltender at the left post for his fourth of the season.
UConn held the edge in shots in the second, 12-9, with Mercyhurst still holding the overall advantage, 21-17.
Jendras tallied the game winner and his third of the night at 5:00 off a well placed pass from freshman Cole Schneider. Schneider came along the right boards behind the net before sliding a pass in front for Jendras to tap in for his eighth goal of the season.
Schneider set a pair of UConn records on the goal. With his 19th assist of the season, he set a new UConn freshmen assist record since the Huskies became a Division I program in 1998. He also recorded his 30th point of the season putting him atop the freshmen Division I scoring list.
The two teams will play game two of the series at Freitas Ice Forum in Storrs tomorrow beginning at 7:05 p.m.
