NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Alex Jefferies scored with 2:17 left in overtime to push Merrimack past Vermont 3-2 Saturday night in Hockey East action from Lawler Rink.
 
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Box Score
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"We were excellent through 55 minutes and decided to stray from our game plan for a few shifts," said Head Coach Todd Woodcroft. "We cannot expect to take penalties against a top power play team and win. Our specialty teams themselves let an excellent performance by Gabe Carriere get wasted. Tomorrow will be a work day where we try to get back to our identity. We have no room for selfless play and as we have healthy bodies coming back to the lineup, different roster decisions will be made."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Catamounts started strong on Saturday night. They won the first five faceoffs of the game and had the first seven shots as well. UVM couldn't solve Zachary Borgiel in the first period, who they were facing for the first time this season. Borgiel made 16 saves in the opening frame.
• Vermont was rewarded for their hard work 8:13 into the second period as first year Joel Määttä scored his first career collegiate goal. Määttä cut back along the left faceoff circle and fired a wrist shot that beat a screened Borgiel on the play. Joe Leahy and Porter Schachle were credited with assists on the play.
• Schachle scored his first career goal 3:27 into the third period to double the Vermont lead. In transition Schachle entered the Merrimack zone after receiving a pass from Leahy. Schachle looked off Borgiel scanning the passing lanes before firing a wrist shot under his blocker for his first collegiate goal. Ray Vitolins earned the secondary assist on the goal.
• With 6:20 to go in the third period the Warriors cut the Vermont lead in half with a power play tally. A rebound in front bounced off a Vermont defender's skate and came right to Alex Jeffries who tapped it home past Vermont's Gabe Carriere who had no chance on the play.
• Just 2:31 later the Warriors equalized with another power play goal. Steven Jandric redirected a point shot right in front and past Carriere for his seventh goal of the season.
• 45 seconds into overtime Andrew Lucas rang a one-timer off the post just missing his first game-winning tally of the season. Carriere made four overtime saves keeping Vermont alive. With 2:17 to go Jefferies struck again to win the additional point for Merrimack.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Junior defenseman Joe Leahy had his fifth career multi-point game tonight, registering two assists. It was his second multi-point point game as a Catamount.
• This year with each goal scored by UVM, Community Bank, N.A.  will donate $75 to Special Olympics Vermont. With tonight's goals, Community Bank, N.A. will be adding a donation of $150 to Special Olympics Vermont. Thank you Community Bank, N.A. for your support of our UVM and Special Olympics athletes!

UP NEXT
Vermont is back home next weekend as they host No. 10 UMass in a two-game series. On Friday, February 25 the teams will square off at 7 p.m. then again on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The voice of the Catamounts, Adam LaFleur, will broadcast the action live on WVMT (FM 96.3 / AM 620). Both games will be available for free on CollegeSportsLive.
 
Friday is Rally Around Mental Health Night presented by Inspired Closets. The presenting sponsor of Saturday's game is Dunkin'. Visit Dunkin' at the student entrance of Gutterson Fieldhouse for giveaways.
 
Handy Toyota is the presenting sponsor of the 2021-22 men's hockey season