Friday, January 15, 1993 at Volpe Complex, North Andover, MA
HOCKEY EAST GAME
UMass-Lowell Chiefs (12-9-0, 4-6-0 HE t5th) 1 2 0 - 3
Merrimack Warriors (8-10-2, 2-8-0 HE 8th) 2 3 1 - 6
FIRST PERIOD MC-UML
1. MC1, Rob Atkinson 6 (Teal Fowler, Mark Cornforth), 0:56. 1-0
2. UML1, Jeff Daw 4 (Dan O'Connell), 1:17. 1-1
*3. MC2, Dan Gravelle 11 (Atkinson), 15:14. 2-1
SECOND PERIOD
4. MC3, Jim Gibson 8 (Mark Goble), 0:10. 3-1
5. UML2, David Mayes 4 (unassisted), 1:08. 3-2
6. UML3, Mike Murray 10 (Keith Carney, Shane Henry), 10:27. 3-3
7. MC4, Matt Adams 2 (unassisted), 13:31. SHG GWG 4-3
8. MC5, Atkinson 7 (Gravelle, Cornforth), 16:51. PPG 5-3
THIRD PERIOD
9. MC6, Teal Fowler 7 (Gravelle, Alex Weinrich), 7:55. 6-3
SHOTS ON GOAL: UMass-Lowell 8-14-17 = 39
Merrimack 8-15--9 = 32
SAVES: UMass-Lowell, Dwayne Roloson (L, 12-9-0, 58:38, 32 sh-26 sv).
Merrimack, Mike Doneghey (W, 7-5-1, 60:00, 39-36).
POWER PLAYS: UML 0 for 3. MC 1 for 4.
PENALTIES: UML 7/14. MC 6/12.
REFEREES: Steve McBride, Ned Bunyon. LINESMAN: Andy Hennigar.
ATTENDANCE: 1,032.
THREE STARS: 1. C Dan Gravelle, Merrimack (1-2--3).
2. RW Rob Atkinson, Merrimack (2-1--3).
3. D Mark Cornforth, Merrimack (0-2--2).
*-goal originally credited to Atkinson which would have given him a hat
trick, and will probably appear in the papers this way, but chances were
very good after the game that it was to be changed to Gravelle who
tipped in the shot.
After a poor showing against UNH last weekend, Merrimack coach Ron
Anderson read his team the riot act in practice this week, and the team
responded with an inspired 6-3 win over arch-rival UMass-Lowell. Center
Dan Gravelle ran his team-leading point totals to 11-16--27 in 20 games
with a goal and two assists, and wing Rob Atkinson scored two big goals
and assisted on Gravelle's goal.
The win, combined with the other results around the league, left Merrimack
only four points behind the three teams tied for fifth (UML, PC, BC). With
PC playing nonconference foe SLU this weekend, a BC loss to BU Saturday
along with a Merrimack win at Lowell would put the Warriors just two points
out of fifth.
Lowell lost its third straight HE game and first HE road game of the year
(4-1-0). The Chiefs are winless at home in HE (0-5-0).
Atkinson opened the scoring just 56 seconds into the game when he scored
off a faceoff. Teal Fowler won it back to Mark Cornforth, who gave it to
Fowler down low, and Fowler found Atkinson at the right circle for a
one-timer that beat Roloson. But the Chiefs came right back with a goal
21 seconds later when Jeff Daw's blast from the top of the left circle
handcuffed Mike Doneghey, and with the score 1-1 at the 1:17 mark, we
appeared headed for a repeat of the 10-9 game these two teams played a
year and a half ago. But things settled down, and the rest of the period
saw a lot of neutral ice play and very few quality shots. Doneghey was
tested several times by Lowell star forward Mike Murray, three times
from point-blank range, but Murray was unable to solve Doneghey.
Merrimack took a 2-1 lead at 15:14 when Atkinson took a shot from the
right circle and although it appeared tipped in, it was originally
credited to Atkinson. But as I said, indications were afterward (pending
a check of the tape) that it was going to be credited to Gravelle on
the tip for Gravelle's 11th of the year.
The second period saw both teams open it up a little, with Merrimack
outshooting the Chiefs, 15-14. Ten seconds in, Jim Gibson scored his
8th of the year when he was fed by Mark Goble and carried the puck into
the zone and behind the net, then broke free and backhanded the puck
between Roloson's pads. But Lowell again bounced right back, scoring at
1:08 when defenseman David Mayes intercepted a clearing pass and fired a
shot from the left point. Doneghey quickly slid across with the pads up,
but the puck found its way through his pads and Lowell had cut the lead
to 3-2.
Halfway through the period, Goble had a goal waved off when he apparently
knocked in a centering pass with his hand. Less than a minute later at
10:27, Murray, who had been turned away five times by Doneghey, finally
put the biscuit between the pipes when he banged in the rebound of Keith
Carney's shot, tying the score at 3-3. But Murray would not have a shot
on goal the rest of the game and was not much of a factor after the goal.
Goble had another great chance soon afterward when he carried up ice and
let go a low, hard shot from the blue line, but although Roloson was
screened by a defenseman, he was able to flash the glove out and make a
beautiful save.
Lowell went on its first power play of the game at 12:39, but the Chiefs
made a huge blunder when a defenseman got the puck in his own end out
of the corner and tried to fire it cross-ice to his partner. The puck
bounced off a skate and came to Matt Adams right in front, and Adams put
a quick fake on Roloson and flipped it by him for a shorthanded goal,
Merrimack's 2nd of the season. That was the game-winner and made it 4-3
Merrimack.
The Warriors went on a PP of their own soon after the SHG and capitalized
at 16:51, Atkinson scoring his second of the game. Cornforth, who had
stepped up into the play from his defense position, fed Gravelle who
quickly found Atkinson in front for the goal. Merrimack led 5-3 after
two - the same score they led UNH by last Friday before surrendering four
goals in the third and losing 7-5.
Strong defense in the third was to be the difference this time, though.
Lowell would have 17 shots in the period, but most were from long range
and about 5 or 6 came in the final minute and a half with Lowell on a
two-man advantage and the game over. Merrimack also avoided taking bad
penalties with the score close while the Chiefs were not quite as well-
behaved. Gravelle set up the insurance goal at 7:55 when he came up
ice on a 2x1, drew the defenseman and fed Fowler for Fowler's 7th, which
made it 6-3.
Fowler appeared to have injured his knee again at 13:39 when the Chiefs'
Ian Hebert ran him into the net and drew an interference penalty, but
Fowler skated off under his own power and played the rest of the game.
The game was pretty much over when Merrimack's Wayde McMillan drew a
penalty with 1:38 left, but after teammate Alex Weinrich also went off
with 1:22 left, Lowell coach Bruce Crowder pulled goalie Roloson for a
6x3 advantage that would last the rest of the game. The Chiefs had
several great chances to score but blew it on 2 or 3 empty-nets after
Doneghey had stopped the original shot. Doneghey ended up holding the
Chiefs scoreless over the final 29:33 after they had tied the score at 3-3.
POSTGAME
While Merrimack responded to Anderson's putting them through their paces
over the week prior to the game, Lowell returned from its strong sweep
at Alaska-Anchorage and played mostly uninspired hockey. With the return
engagement of the home-and-home coming Saturday night at Lowell, I will
bet we'll see a different Chief team and Merrimack will have its work
cut out for them in its quest to sweep the weekend.
It's pretty amazing that Merrimack could be 2-8-0 in HE at this point
and still be only five points out of a 4th and a potential home-ice spot.
With the way they fumbled away the first UNH game last week and then
didn't show up in last ten minutes of the 2nd UNH game, Merrimack needs
desperately to get another win Saturday and put itself within striking
distance of the three teams tied for fifth.
The game was hyped very well by the two schools and their respective
community papers, the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune and the Lowell Sun, but
still only 1,032 turned out for the game. A once-strong rivalry has
turned boring over the last few years, and although everyone involved
is trying their best to rekindle the fire, it's proving to be very
difficult. However, the fans that did show up were very spirited and
hopefully things will change. The Sun had an excellent article on the
rivalry Thursday, and I may type it in and mail it off to give some of
you an idea of just what one of the biggest rivalries in college hockey
used to be like, one I grew up watching.
Saturday's game at UMass-Lowell will be shown on NESN on tape delay
Sunday night 1/17 at 7 pm.
---
Mike Machnik [log in to unmask] Color Voice of the Merrimack Warriors
(Any opinions expressed above are strictly those of the poster.) *HMN*
|
