YALE 9, CONNECTICUT 1

Courtesy of Connecticut Athletic Communications

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (January 2, 2008) - The University of Connecticut men's hockey team dropped a 9-1 decision to Yale Wednesday in non-conference action. The Huskies fall to 5-11-1 overall, while the Bulldogs, who play in the ECAC Hockey Conference, improve to 6-4-3.

Making his first career start, freshman goalie Brad McInnis (Anchorage, Alaska) made a strong save seven minutes in on the first significant chance for either team. The Yale forward was able to attempt a wide open shot from just outside the right side of the crease that McInnis was able to get low and stop. The Bulldogs were able to get on the board a minute later when Patrick Brosnihan was able to beat McInnis to his right. Chris Myhro (Eden Prairie, Minn.) nearly evened the score at the 10 minute mark when he faked his defender out to get an open shot on net, but sent it just to the outside of the net. Brosnihan was able to add second goal later in the period, and Yale took a 2-0 lead into intermission. The Bulldogs out shot the Huskies 14-5 in the first, and McInnis made 12 saves.

Yale was able to increase the lead to 3-0 with 9:29 left in the second when Mark Arcobello was able to place a rebounded shot into the net. UConn's best chance in the period came off a face-off with seven minutes to go when B.J Bayers (St. Louis Park, Minn.) sent the puck back to defenseman Brian Reagan (Ballwin, Mo.), whose one-timer was gloved by the Bulldogs Billy Blase. About three minutes later, McInnis kept the score at 3-0 with the save of the game, reaching up stab the puck out of the air after originally diving down on the ice. Neither team had a scoring chance after that and Yale took a three goal lead into intermission.

The third period started out well for UConn as they took control of the puck early. Chris Ochoa had an excellent chance from the top of the right face-off circle that beat Blase but went just high. Yale was able to respond from there with three quick goals that put the game away. The Huskies did get on the board when  Matt Turner (Colorado Springs, Colo.) took the rebound off Brendan Olinyk's (Wisconsin Rapids, Wisc.) shot and shot it himself from in between the two circles to beat Blase high for his third goal of the season.

For the game, the Bulldogs out shot Connecticut 46-21. McInnis made 37 saves in net.

The Huskies return to action this Friday when they face another ECAC opponent as they travel to Union. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm in Schenectady, N.Y.