Nick Pierre scored three goals to help Merrimack College men’s hockey earn a 5-5 tie with UConn on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Lawler Arena in North Andover.
The Warriors finished October at 5-1-2, extending their unbeaten streak to seven games. UConn won the shootout 2-1 to claim the extra Hockey East standings point, according to the official conference box score.
Pierre leads the offense
Pierre opened the scoring at 1:07 of the first period. After UConn’s Carter Sproule tied it, Mavrick Lachance restored Merrimack’s lead with 46 seconds remaining before intermission.
Pierre struck again 55 seconds into the second period to make it 3-1. UConn’s Joey Muldowney answered on the power play, but Pierre completed his hat trick at 7:30, pushing the Warriors ahead 4-2.
The three goals brought Pierre’s season total to eight. He also led Merrimack with six shots on goal. Trevor Hoskin assisted on all three of Pierre’s goals.
UConn keeps answering
Colin Frank pulled the Huskies within one at 14:35 of the second period. Ethan Whitcomb then scored on a five-on-three power play with 37 seconds left, sending the teams into the second intermission tied 4-4.
Caden Cranston put Merrimack back ahead at 6:59 of the third. Anthony Allain-Samake answered at 10:34 to tie the game for the final time.
Neither team scored in overtime. Jeremy Loranger and Whitcomb converted in the shootout, while UConn goaltender Veeti Louhivaara stopped three of Merrimack’s four attempts.
Warriors goaltender Ryan Keyes finished with 34 saves on 39 shots.
Holy Cross visits Friday
Merrimack scored five goals in both games against UConn, following a 5-4 victory Friday. The Warriors also allowed nine goals across the weekend.
Merrimack hosts Holy Cross on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. at Lawler Arena, according to the team’s schedule.
