During this series, Ice Insider covers NCAA outings that Head collegiate Reporter Nolan Larrabee attends during the 24-25 Season as a media member or a spectator.
By Nolan Larrabee @Nolan_larrabee Iceinsider.com NCAA All Access Reporter
BRIGHTON-- On Tuesday, November 12, Stonehill faced Merrimack in a nonconference matchup at a neutral site arena, Warrior Ice Arena. In a dramatic and hard-fought contest, Stonehill College secured a 4-3 overtime victory over Merrimack College. Despite being outshot, outplayed, and under constant pressure, the Skyhawks showed incredible resilience to earn their fourth win of the season. The victory came with a thrilling overtime finish after the game had been tied 3-3 at the end of regulation.
The starting lineup for the visiting Merrimack Warriors was, #23 Antonio Venuto on the left, #8 Harrison Roy in the center, and, #21 Caden Cranston on the right. For their starting defensemen, #24 Josef Mysak is on the left, and #4 Seamus Powell is on the right. In between the pipes for Merrimack is #47 Max Lundgren who is appearing in his 6th game of the season. Lundgren has posted a 2.68 GAA and a .911 SVG over those 5 games played.
For the Skyhawks their lineup was, #24 Anthony Galante on the left and #25 Dean Schwenninger in the middle, and #20 Henri Shreifels on the right. For their defense, #6 Justin Gibson is on the left, and for the right #55 Dominick Campione. In net for the Skyhawks #29 Connor Androlewicz appeared in his 9th game of the season. He has posted a 3.09 GAA and a .901 SVG over those games.
At the start of the game, both teams started playing very physically with many big hits for the Skyhawks and Warriors. Each team had many early chances. With 6:40 into the first Stonehill opened up the score with a great net-front pass from #28 Zach Aben to #19 Frank Ireland who crashed the net up front and put the puck past Lundgren for an early 1-0 lead. Later that period Merrimack’s #5 Trevor Griebel got called for elbowing call with 7:34 left in the period, Stonehill was able to capitalize on the power play after a net-front scramble, Stonehill’s #26 Evan Orr was able to find the puck and hammer it home after, the puck went loose. The goal was assisted by #24 Anthony Galante and #44 Zach Nicolas. In conclusion of the first Merrimack was outshooting Stonehill 9 to 5, despite trailing Stonehill 2-0.
To begin the second Merrimack decided to switch their starting goalie Max Lundgren out for Nils Wallstrom, after Lundgren let up 2 goals on 5 shots. With 1:55 minutes into the 2nd Stonehill’s Anthony Galante put one past Wallstrom with a beautiful toe drag release that just barely snuck through him, to give the Skyhawks a 3-0 lead. This was the first shot that Wallstrom had faced all game. Right after the Stonehill goal Merrimack's intensity started to ramp up, they didn’t want to lose this game. Later that period Stonehill’s Dean Schwenninger turned the puck over at their blue line and Merrimack’s Michael Emerson picked it up, but Stonehill’s defense was able to lock him down.
A couple of minutes after Merrimack’s Josef Mysak walked through Stonehill’s defense to get a shot on goal, later that same shift Stonehill was unable to clear the puck as Merrimack was skating circles around them. Right after that with 7:55 minutes into the 2nd Merrimack’s Caelan Fitzpatrick broke Androlewicz’s shutout with a wrister that went up top past him. The goal was assisted by Josef Mysak. With Merrimack now having one on the board it gave them the motivation they needed. 1:01 minutes after Merrimack scored their first, the Warrior’s Antonio Venuto put one by Androlewicz from a cross-crease pass from Josef Mysak to make it 2-3.
The game had shifted, Merrimack was owning Stonehill as well as getting a ton of chances. For the Skyhawks, they had many problems trying to get the puck out of their zone. With Stonehill unable to clear the puck, Stonehill’s Connor Androlewicz was standing on his head the whole time to keep the score close. But despite Androlewicz’s efforts, he could not keep the score from being tied, as Merrimack’s Tyler Young took a wrister from the faceoff circle and caught his rebound tucking it by Androlewicz, who could not move over. With the score now being 3-3, the game had shifted, it was all about the Warriors now, they had came back from a 3-0 defect.
After the horn ended to conclude the 2nd, Merrimack was outshooting the Skyhawks 26 to 13.
At the start of the third period, the game was tied 3-3, and both teams came out flying with high energy. The play was physical from both sides, with chances for each team to score. Stonehill had several strong offensive plays, while Merrimack dominated possession, skating circles around their opponents. At 2:44, Stonehill's, Anthony Galante, was called for high-sticking, sending him to the penalty box for two minutes. Meanwhile, Stonehill's goalie, Connor Androlewicz, was putting on an impressive performance, making key saves to keep his team in the game. Merrimack also had a penalty when their goalie, Nils Wallstrom, was called for interference, it ended up being David Sacco serving the penalty. As the third period came to a close, Merrimack outshot Stonehill 18 to 4.
The game went into overtime tied 3-3, with Stonehill still on the power play as the extra period began. The power play ended 56 seconds into OT, and just 1:48 into overtime, Stonehill's #26, Evan Orr, scored the game-winning goal, on a cross-ice one-timer, passed by #55 Dominick Campione and #9 Brady Hunter, sealing the victory. This was Orr’s second goal of the game.
The final shots were Merrimack 44 and Stonehill 19.
Key players of the game were, #26 Evan Orr who had 2 goals and 3 shots during the game, and #20 Henri Schreifles who picked up 1 assist and had 4 shots which led the team in shots. Other Noticeable players are #55 Dominick Campione on Stonehill #24 Anthony Galante also from Stonehill, and as well #29 Connor Androlewicz. For the Warriors their key players were, #29 Caelan Fitzpatrick who had 1 goal and 6 shots, also from Merrimack #24 Josef Mysak who had 2 assists and 3 shots.
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