Men’s Hockey: Catamounts See Three Goal Lead Slip Away, Tie Merrimack 5-5

Posted on by George Commo

Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

NORTH ANDOVER, MA. — Merrimack erased a 4-1 deficit late in the second period as the Vermont Catamounts (3-15-4, 0-11-2) settled for a 5-5 Hockey East tie with the Warriors Friday night at Lawler Rink.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Andrew Lucas scored his third goal of the season at 4:55 of the first to give Vermont the early lead. Lucas received a defensive zone pass from Johnny DeRoche and skated coast-to-coast before burying the goal past Merrimack goalie Troy Kobryn (11 saves).
Jacques Bouquot doubled the UVM lead less than two minutes later, tipping a point shot from William Lemay past Kobryn on the power play. Lucas picked up the secondary assist on the man-up marker.
Merrimack’s Ryan Nolan potted his first career goal at 10:51 of the first to cut the Catamount lead in half. Nolan deflected a backdoor pass from Liam Walsh past a sliding Stefanos Lekkas (36 saves).
Derek Lodermeier pushed UVM’s lead to 3-1 just 58 seconds into the middle frame, firing a snapshot through Kobryn from the right dot. Corey Moriarty and Dallas Comeau assisted on the captain’s third of the season. Jere Huhtamaa (13 saves) replaced Kobryn between the pipes following the goal.
Cory Thomas pushed the Catamount lead to 4-1 at 12:31 of the second period. Thomas received a pass from Max Kaufman at the top of the slot and wired a wrist shot under Huhtamaa. Bryce Misley picked up the secondary assist on the goal.
Merrimack stormed back, scoring three goals in a 5:47 span to tie the game at 4-4 before the end of the second behind goals from Zach Uens, Tyler Irvine, and Ben Brar.
Lemay put the Cats back on top early in the third period. He picked up a loose puck at the top of the Merrimack zone and skated down the left wing before rifling a shot over Huhtamaa’s glove. Misley added his second assist of the night on the go-ahead goal.
Merrimack junior Patrick Holway tied the game with 2:30 to play in regulation during a stretch of 4-on-4 play. Zach Vinnell and Chase Gresock assisted on the equalizer.
Lekkas and Huhtamaa both made key stops in the extra frame to keep the game deadlocked.

GAME NOTES
Bouquot, Lodermeier, and Lucas each scored his third goal of the season in the game.
Vermont and Merrimack both finished the night 1-for-3 on power play chances. Merrimack outshot Vermont 41-28.

UP NEXT
Vermont closes the season series with Merrimack tomorrow night. The puck is slated to drop at 7:05 p.m. at Lawler Rink.