Merrimack can't hold on to lead against Union

Nov 28, 2021

Photo: Merrimack Athletics/Brendan Carpenter

Merrimack trailed for much of Friday afternoon’s game against Union, but the Warriors took a lead late in the third only to let it slip away. The Warriors fell to the Dutchmen, 3-2.

Max Newton and Jordan Seyfert scored a minute and a half apart midway into the final frame to give Merrimack a 2-1 lead, but the Dutchmen struck with a pair of their own in the closing eight minutes to claim the road win. The setback put an end to Merrimack's two-game winning streak.

Liam Robertson gave Union a 1-0 lead late in the first period and the Dutchmen held that lead into the third period.

Merrimack picked up its play in third period and was able to break through thanks to a pair of veteran forwards. Steven Jandric collected a loose puck in his own end and turned on the jets to start a 2-on-1 break with Newton. After Newton slid a pass to Jandric on the far side just past the blue line, Jandric quickly worked it back to the graduate student, who wired home his team-leading seventh goal of the season.

With the momentum shifted, the Warriors capitalized just moments later to take the lead. Declan Carlile was able to win a 50-50 puck in the neutral zone forward to Seyfert near the red line. After that, Seyfert got it to Mick Messner, who carried around a defender and towards the net, then shoved one towards the crease. Seyfert got into the dirty area and jammed home his first of the season to give Merrimack the lead.

The Merrimack lead lasted just three minutes. The Dutchmen tied the game, then they scored the eventual game-winner on a power-play opportunity just under two minutes later.