The University of Connecticut men’s ice hockey team lost both matchups to the No. 12 University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen this weekend, falling 2-0 at home on Friday before yielding a 3-1 contest on the road on Saturday. With the loss, the Huskies dropped from fifth to sixth place in the Hockey East.
The action began at the Toscano Family Ice Forum in Storrs, Conn. for the first of the weekend’s two games. Despite holding UMass scoreless through the first two periods of the contest, the Huskies could not connect with the net, and the third period commenced still knotted at 0-0. Quick goals from Dans Locmelis and Jack Mousa suddenly put the Minutemen up 2-0 early in the third, an advantage that the Ice Bus could not surmount as the score was finalized.
It was a very clean match between both sides, as only one penalty was called on either side throughout the contest. UMass goalkeeper Michael Hrabal saved all 36 shots he faced, while the Ice Bus’ Aresenii Sergeev managed 29 saves of his own. Sergeev was pulled in favor of an extra skater with just over three minutes remaining, though the Huskies could not take advantage. Overall, Connecticut outshot Massachusetts 36-31 in the game. The loss is now the team’s third-straight at its on-campus home in Storrs, as the team has failed to score in their last nine periods played at Toscano.
The action moved to the Mullins Center in Amherst, Massachusetts, for the second game between the Huskies and Minutemen. At 4:41, it appeared that UMass scored the game’s first goal, though Connecticut successfully challenged goalkeeper interference on the play, and the goal was erased. A Cam O’Neill score four minutes later made up for the challenge and gave Massachusetts the early 1-0 lead. Aydar Suniev extended the home team’s advantage to two with a goal in the eighth minute of the second.
The Huskies scored their first and only goal of the weekend in the 12th minute of the second period courtesy of Ryan Tattle, cutting into UMass’ lead to make the score 2-1. Amherst quickly responded with another goal two minutes later, this time via Cole O’Hara. Neither team could move the score until a Nick VanTassell goal appeared to extend the Minutemen’s lead to a commanding 4-1 with just under three minutes remaining in regulation. However, after review, it was ruled that he was offside before the goal. Still, Massachusetts’ advantage proved too difficult for UConn to surmount as they lost their second game in a row 3-1.
UConn outshot Amherst 37-27 in the contest but did not have the same success finding the net. Hrabal was once again incredible in the goal for UMass, saving 36 shots for the second straight game to give him 72 saves on 73 attempts combined on the weekend. For Connecticut, Ethan Haider corralled 24 saves of his own. The Huskies did not have a power play attempt in the game, while the Minutemen were unsuccessful in three attempts.
With the six conference points they gained in the two wins, Massachusetts jumped from sixth-place to a two-way tie for fourth place in the Hockey East alongside Providence. They now have 28 points in conference play. The Huskies are now the team immediately behind UMass and Providence in sixth place, though their 23 conference points leave them trailing both teams by five points, a noticeable disadvantage despite only the one-place difference. They are not just one point ahead of seventh-place New Hampshire, having played three more conference games than the Wildcats.
The Ice Bus’ next chance to right the ship will be two weekends from now when they face a daunting challenge in No. 3 Boston University. The two programs will meet for two matchups, with the first being played on Friday, Feb. 23, at the Toscano in Storrs. Action will then turn to the Agganis Arena in Boston for game two on Saturday, February 24. The puck-drop for both games is set for 7 p.m. Fans at home can catch both games on ESPN+.