It wasn’t the breakthrough they were looking for, it was Merrimack’s head coach Scott Borek saw enough progress to call Saturday afternoon’s 5-2 loss to UConn a step in the right direction.
After a flat performance following Friday’s 3-0 loss, the Warriors turned in a much spirited performance against the first-place team in Hockey East. It didn’t produce the desired result, but Borek believed his club had successfully adjusted key elements of the game that were missing the night before.
“We competed much better and more intelligently,” Borek said. “We didn’t get beyond ourselves. We’re just in trouble offensively. We don’t get enough zone time. We just have to figure it out. But I’m not remotely angry with our effort. Our game was good.”
Nathan King opened the scoring for Merrimack with his first collegiate goal of the opening period. Freshman Joseph Henneberry recorded his first collegiate marker in the third. Henneberry was one of several players reinserted into the lineup as the Warriors completely overhauled their combinations following Friday’s loss.
“Our guys are frustrated,” Borek said. “We’ve got some big pieces done right now, but the guys who stepped in have done a good job. Joey Henneberry was good and Mark Hillier did a nice job with it [Ryan O’Connell] again. We played more of a team game tonight.”
After being overwhelmed out of possession on Friday, the Warriors held their own on Saturday. The Huskies defeated Merrimack 39-38, a dramatic improvement from the 36-19 margin the night before.
The Warriors now turn their attention to a two-game homestand next weekend before heading into a two-week holiday. They will host Yale on Friday night, followed by a visit from Long Island on Saturday – the Sharks’ second trip to North Andover this season.
– Defender Hunter Mayo missed the game due to illness, Borek confirmed. Parker Lalondewho was injured on a hit on Friday evening, is expected to remain sidelined until after the semester break.
— Justin Gill moved to center and went 13-9 at the faceoff point.
— Nolan Flamand posted two assists, while Nick Pierre led the Warriors with 10 shot attempts and seven shots on goal.
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