Connecticut Falls 4-3 to 15th ranked UMass

Courtesy of Connecticut Athletic Communications

Amherst, Mass. (October 20, 2007) - The University of Connecticut men's ice hockey team put a spirited battle vs. 15th ranked Massachusetts Saturday, but fell 4-3 in non-conference action. UConn falls to 1-1-0 on the season, while the Minutemen are 2-1-1.

The first period started out with the Huskies taking control of the puck early. They held the Minutemen without a shot for the first five minutes of the game while keeping the puck mostly on their offensive side of the ice. UConn was able to get on the board at the 10:09 mark, when on the power play, Olson scored his third goal of the weekend taking a pass from Chris Ochoa (Santa Monica, Calif.) and scoring in the right corner of the net. In the next five minutes after the goal was scored, UMass took control of the puck, recording several offensive chances both on the ice and to the high corners of the net. Husky goalie Beau Erickson (Hinton, Iowa) was on top of his game however, making several saves and keeping them off the board. UConn took a 1-0 lead into intermission, despite being out shot 11-4.

The Minutemen tied it up 1:29 into the second period on the power play, when Cory Quirk was able to put the rebound of a Beau Erickson save into the back of the net. Beau Erickson responded with a great save at the 6:58 mark, sending a shot harmlessly out of play with his blocker. UMass was able to take the lead a little over a minute later, when Will Ortiz got behind the defense and beat Beau Erickson high.

Trailing for the first time, the Huskies did not back down. At the 10:27 mark of the second, Ochoa shot the puck from the left side which the goalie saved. The rebound came right back to him, he skated to right side of the net and beat the goalie to his left. Jarett Costello (Chandler, Ariz.) and Michael Coppola (Old Brookville, N.Y.) received assists on the goal.

Two quick goals in the first 6:20 of the third period put the Minutemen up 4-2. The Huskies answered at the 9:34 mark when Olson redirected a shot by Joe Walchessen (Ortley Beach, N.J.) to pull UConn to within one at 4-3. The Huskies pulled the goalie with 1:26 left and generated some chances, including a shot by Coppola with 10 seconds to go, but were unable to get the tying score.

For the game UMass out shot UConn 37-23. Coppola and Ochoa led the team with five shots each. Beau Erickson made 33 saves.

UConn returns to action next Saturday when they host Army in an Atlantic Hockey Association conference match. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Freitas Ice Forum.