Takeaways from Merrimack's 3-2 preseason overtime win over Sacred Heart

Photo: Sacred Heart Hockey Blog (Twitter/X)

It won’t count in the standings or in the Pairwise, but that didn’t diminish the feeling for the Warriors.

Matt Copponi scored on a blistering one-timer less than one minute into overtime to give the Warriors a 3-2 win over Sacred Heart in preseason action on Saturday afternoon. Copponi’s goal came on the power play 25 seconds after Sacred Heart’s Mark Cheremeta was sent to the penalty box for tripping.

Mark Hillier set up the game winner after he found Copponi for the one-timer in the right circle.

“It was a solid effort by our group,” said Merrimack coach Scott Borek. “It was an adjustment for both teams to get our seasons started, but I liked our game with the puck; we need a lot of work on our game without it.

“Exhibition or not, if we are keeping score the result matters, so I was happy we pulled it out.”

Sophomore Tyler Young and freshman David Sacco were the other goal scorers for the Warriors.

Hugo Ollas and Zachary Borgiel split the duties in goal. Ollas stopped 11 out of 12 shots in 33:14 and Borgiel then entered the game and stopped 14 out of 15 shots in the final 27:35.

Here are my takeaways from Saturday’s game: