Endicott Downs UConn

Feb. 3, 2007

This past weekend the Gulls were at home to host the powerful University of Connecticut Huskies. Freshman goaltender Matt Murray was the anchor for the Gulls defense as the Gulls made one defensive stand after another, in an effort to hold UConn to a total of only three goals.

The Gulls were expecting a very powerful Connecticut team, which was exactly what they got, however at the beginning of the game the Gulls were all over the Huskies and looking for that most important first goal. Unfortunately UConn was able to strike first as they slipped a short-handed goal past Murray to go up 1-0, which was the score at the end of the first period.

Going into the second period, Endicott had a sense of confidence as they played 20 minutes against this team and were only down one goal. As the Gulls took the ice they spent little time evening the game up as senior forward Ben Dodge notched a goal on the power play. Shortly after freshman forward Matt Nardone worked the puck in front of the net for a shot and immediately pounded home the rebound putting the Gulls up 2-1. Moments later, after an onslaught by the Gulls in the offensive zone, junior defenseman Gabe Carriero let a bomb go that was tipped in front by Brian Sullivan which slid right through the UConn goaltenders legs for the goal, putting the Gulls up 3-1.

By the conclusion of the second period the Huskies were able to climb within one goal as they tapped one in past Murray. At the start of the third period the Gulls were very much energized and ready to take this one home. A quick UConn goal resulted in a tie game which would last for most of the third period, which provided a high tempo pace for both teams. Near the conclusion of the game, junior Bryan Caccamo snuck into the low slot and sniped the top shelf on the UConn goalie for the game winning goal. The Gulls celebrated in great fashion and with them took home a \#10 ranking for a Regionals birth for the first time in Endicott hockey history. Regionals will take place February 16-18 in Rochester, NY. The Gulls will host one last home game for the season against UVM on Feb. 10 at 7:00pm. Endicott will then travel to MIT on February 14th which could be a deciding game to determine first place in the North East Collegiate Hockey Association.