The Minutemen of UMass dropped their fifth consecutive game Saturday night at home against Merrimack, losing the season series in the process. UMass came into the Mullins Center after getting beat 4-1 at Merrimack the night before and came out flying. The dominated the first period, out shooting their opponents 13-5 in the first frame, but despite controlling the play, they headed into the first intermission at a scoreless tie.

In the second Merrimack was able to get some momentum and scored two goals, one coming from the Warriors having a player float around the UMass blueline despite the play being in their own zone. They were doing this all night and this one time, the long pass connected and both back checking Minutemen went to the puck carrier and he dished it off to Ryan Flanigan who was streaking in all alone and beat Dan Meyers on the blocker side. In the third, Merrimack’s Stephane DaCosta picked off a Will Ortiz pass at the UMass blueline and scored with a wrist shot that was labeled top shelf, putting the game out of reach.

The Merrimack Warriors played spoilers, beating UMass 3-0 on senior night. It was the last home game (pending a home playoff series) for goalie Dan Meyers, defenseman Martin Nolet and Justin Braun and forwards Brett Watson and Will Ortiz. Before the game, UMass honored them in front of the crowd and having their parents and other family member come onto the ice for photos. All five players will be missed dearly next year. Meyers was a very solid backup to Paul Dainton in his final two years and gave the players in front of him confidence when he was in net. Will Ortiz is tied for most career game winning goals and always brought intensity to the ice. Coach Cahoon often praised Brett Watson, one of the co-captains this year, for his effort as well as both off and on ice leadership. Martin Nolet was a very good defensemen at both ends of the ice and a crowd favorite, which often chanted “Nolet” instead of “Oley” like they do in Montreal. Justin Braun, the other co-captain, was the best defenseman on the team without doubt this year in every situation. The Minutemen will likely have to win their next three games, one at Boston College and two at Maine, in order to get a home playoff and get any consideration for the NCAA tournament because of this current losing streak.

photo courtesy of Don Treeger

The highly anticipated battle for second place in Hockey East between the UMass Minutemen and the Boston College Eagles was anything but a battle. The Minutemen played poorly and the Eagles took advantage taking a 7-1 win and demoralizing the sold out crown at the Mullins Center Friday night. The Eagles got two goals quickly before Casey Wellman rang a shot off the post, the Eagles counter-attacked scored soon afterwards on a questionable goal in which the scoring player was in the crease long before the puck arrive, but the referees did not decide to call it back after viewing the replay. The only real chance for UMass to try and claw back was at the end of the first period, down 4-0, they had a ninety second 5-on-3 powerplay, but could not manage to get anything past Eagles goalie John Muse. After going down 7-0 in the second, James Marcou scored the only UMass goal late in the third, but clearly it was way too little way to late. The Minutemen are going to have to have very strong finish to the season to make up for the debacle Friday night, including a game at Boston College, if they want to make it to the NCAA tournament.  Next weekend they will have a home and home with Northeastern University.