University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
12-15-2, 7-11-1
Massachusetts
16-7-3, 9-5-2
Huskies Fall at No. 12 UMass
2/10/2024 10:08:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
AMHERST, Mass. – UMass goaltender Michael Hrabal turned in another standout performance in net, turning away 36 of the 37 shots he faced as the No. 12 nationally ranked Minutemen topped the visiting UConn Huskies, 3-1 Saturday night at the Mullins Center.
UMass (16-7-3, 9-5-2 HEA) sweeps the weekend series, taking all six points in the Hockey East standings. The Huskies (12-15-2, 7-11-1 HEA) were swept for the first time this season and lose the season series with UMass, 0-2-1.
The Huskies lone goal came off the stick of sophomore Ryan Tattle (Port Moody, B.C.). UConn held a 37-27 shot advantage and finished 0-for-2 on the power play.
The Minutemen thought they had the game's first goal just 4:41 in as Jack Musa hammered a loose puck in out of a pile up in front of the net. UConn challenged for goaltender interference and the goal was wiped off the board.
UMass got it back at 8:03 in the first for a 1-0 lead on freshman Cam O'Neill's third goal of the season. The Minutemen cycled the puck around the zone and defenseman Samuli Niinisaari threw a shot on net from just inside the blue line and O'Neill got a deflection past Ethan Haider (St. Louis Park, Minn.) near the left post for the game's first goal.
UMass's Aydar Suniev pushed the lead to 2-0 at 7:06 in the 2nd period. Junior defenseman Scott Morrow carried into the zone and put a pass on Suniev's stick on the left wing and the freshman snapped a shot home to the near post.
The Huskies pulled one back at 11:20 of the second on Tattle's fourth goal of the season. Freshman Joey Muldowney (Lake View, N.Y.) kept the puck in the zone and fed sophomore Matthew Wood (Nanaimo, B.C.) behind the net. Wood dished to Tattle in the high slot and his classmate buried the one-time chance to pull withing 2-1. UMass answered right back less than two minutes later as Cole O'Hara was able to put a shot past a screened Haider for a 3-1 lead.
A third period review wiped out a Nick VanTassell goal for offsides that would have put UMass up 4-1 with just under three to play. UConn was able to get Haider off for the extra skater after the review but still couldn't solve Hrabal. The UMass netminder stopped 72 of 73 shots on the weekend.
The Huskies will be off next weekend and return to action on February 23 and 24 for a Hockey East home and home series with Boston University. The Huskies will host BU on Friday night at the Toscano Family Ice Forum and head to Agganis Arena on Saturday night. Both games will be carried on ESPN+.
