Hockey Falls at Merrimack in Non-Conference Tilt

Friday, November 24

North Andover, MA

4:00 PM

Army West Point

2-10-0

Merrimack College

5-6-1

Army West Point

Merrimack

Hockey Falls at Merrimack in Non-Conference Tilt

November 24, 2023 | Hockey

Box Score

NORTH ANDOVER, MA - Army West Point hockey (2-10-0, 2-6-0 AHA) fell by a score of 7-3 to Merrimack (5-6-1, 2-4-1 Hockey East) in a non-conference road matchup on Black Friday.

The Black Knights went ahead 2-0 in the first period before five goals in an eight-minute stretch in the second period propelled the Warriors to the win as Merrimack eventually outshot Army 45-22 in the game.

Three different freshmen deposited goals for the Black Knights, with Vincent Salice netting the first of his Army career while Jake Hewitt and Brent Keefer also lit the lamp.

Army's line of Hunter McCoy, Nik Hong and Jake Hewitt produced its third goal in three periods, linking up for a goal within the opening 100 seconds of the game. Hong got the puck to the back wall where McCoy was able to slide a nifty backpass to Hewitt, who kept his cool to finish off his second score in as many games to put Army ahead.

Szary had a strong start in the opening frame, making multiple key saves to keep the Warriors of the board early. With a tick under eight minutes to go in the period, Vincent Salice scored his first collegiate goal off a deflection as John Driscoll fired a shot towards net. Salice became the fifth plebe to net a goal for the Black Knights this season, as Army went ahead 2-0. Merrimack outshot the Cadets 18-5 through the opening 20 minutes, but Szary was up to the task to keep the home side off the board as Army maintained its two-goal lead into the second period.

Merrimack continued to pepper Szary in the second, but failed to get on the scoreboard until the second half of the period through Ben Brar who made it a one-goal game. The Warriors tied the game just over a minute later, before taking a 3-2 lead just over a minute after the second goal. Completely turning the game on its head, Merrimack got a fourth with three minutes to go in the frame before taking a penalty right after. However, the Warriors found themselves on a two-on-zero break shorthanded which was finished off by Mark Hillier to cap a seven-minute stretch which saw five goals from the home side. The nightmare period for Army ended as the Merrimack took a 5-2 advantage into the final 20 minutes of play.

Army was quick to put the end of the second period behind them,, with Brent Keefer scoring an even strength goal less than a minute into the third. Joey Baez lifted a perfectly weighted pass down the middle of the ice which found an open Keefer, who used a pump fake in front to deke Zachary Borgiel in the Warriors net before slotting home his fifth of the season. Army's hopes of a comeback were short-lived, as the Black Knights took a penalty soon after with Ty Daneault capitalizing with his second score of the game to make it a 6-3 contest. Gavin Abric came on in relief in net for Army at the intermission, eventually making 12 saves in the final frame. Mark Gallant put the finishing touches on the game for the Warriors, scoring the final goal of the game which brought it to a 7-3 final.

Army will take on another Hockey East opponent tomorrow in UMass-Lowell, with puck drop set for 4:00 p.m. on ESPN+.