INSIDE HOCKEY

NEW HAVEN, CONN. – Dogs are man’s best friend.  But when they bite back, boy do they bite back.  Sit and stay were not two familiar terms for the Bulldogs who fought through three periods for a tie.  It wasn’t until overtime ensued that the Minutemen established who was in control of the game.

On Thursday evening, 2-1-2 Yale hosted 7-2 UMass for the first time since 1997 when the Minutemen defeated Yale 7-4.  This game didn’t go much better for the Elis who lost 4-3 towards the end of overtime.   

After posting an early lead with a first period goal, Yale was able to stave off any retaliation until the next period.  At 6:56 of the first, Denny Kearney scored off a feed from Andrew Miller.  Then in the second, Chase Langeraap fed the puck to Brett Watson who setup Michael Marcou for the tying goal. 

In the same period, but down two men, Yale relinquished their lead.  With Mark Arcobello in the penalty box for slashing and Broc Little in for hooking, the Bulldogs gave up a goal at 8:36, just three minutes after the last goal.  Minutemen Justin Braun and James Marcou fed the puck to Casey Wellman for the goal.

Yale led after the first period and UMass led after the second, but the third proved to be the great equalizer. 

On a power play opportunity, Sean Backman tied the game off a feed from Brian O’Neill and Josh Balch.  Hungry for the home win, Yale followed up with a second goal just over a minute later, at 7:48.  Defensman Tom Dignard fed the puck up the center to Andrew Miller who crossed it to Broc Little for the goal. 

The lead lasted all of two minutes before T.J. Syner was fed the puck by David Boehm and Rocco Carzo.  His shot tied the game 3-3 with nearly ten minutes left in regulation  The minutes ticked away before the seconds ticked away, and as the buzzer sounded, the game remained tied at 3-3.  A five-minute sudden death overtime began.

Each team had just one shot on net before the winner was decided.  Freshman goaltender Nick Maricic was unable to hold back the shot fired at 3:59 which determined the Minutemen victorious.  The game-winning goal was scored by James Marcou with assists by Wellman and Michael Marcou. 

Although Yale put together a solid and highly respectable fight, they went home with their tails between their legs, while the Minutemen marched home proudly in victory.  UMass goalie Dan Meyers improved his undefeated record to 2-0 while the team improved their overall to 8-2, while Yale is now at .500 at 2-2-2. 

UMass continues their road trip with a game at Vermont next Tuesday.  Meanwhile Yale heads to Brown for an Ivy League showdown on Saturday.