PHOTO GALLERY | VIDEO HIGHLIGHTSHUNTSVILLE | The University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey team topped Connecticut on Saturday night at the Von Braun Center by a score of 5-2 to earn the split in the non-conference series to start the 2015-16 campaign. UAH improves to 1-1-0, while UConn dips to 1-1-0.
The Huskies got on the board first on Saturday as Corey Ronan had a successful penalty shot attempt at 10:37 following a tripping penalty on freshman
Hans Gorowsky as UConn had a breakaway chance.
UAH quickly evened the score at 1-1 at 11:44 as alternate captain
Chad Brears notched his first of the year thanks to assists from sophomores
Richard Buri and
Brennan Saulnier.
A UConn goal by Miles Gedron would give the Huskies a 2-1 advantage at 14:39, but Saulnier netted his second of the season 25 seconds later at 15:04 to make it a 2-2 tie heading into the first break. Brears and
Max McHugh were credited with assists on Saulnier's goal.
The majority of the second frame went scoreless until McHugh netted his second of the series on a power-play opportunity at 17:24 of the middle period, thanks to helpers from Saulnier and Brears.
UAH padded its lead in the third period as Saulnier scored his second of the game – finishing with two goals and two assists – at 6:10 of the third to make it a 4-2 Charger lead.
The final goal of the contest that gave UAH the 5-2 victory came from Gorowsky at 11:00 in the third, with the freshman having a successful breakaway chance for the Chargers first shorthanded goal of the 2015-16 campaign. Soquila was credited with an assist on the goal.
Junior
Carmine Guerriero was stellar in net for the Chargers totaling 29 saves, including a game-high 12 stops in the second period. His record improves to 1-1-0 for the year.
UAH looks ahead to an exhibition matchup against Alabama on Saturday at the Huntsville IcePlex, where puck drop is slated for 6 p.m. The following week, the Chargers return to the VBC to take on visiting Alaska Anchorage on Oct. 23-24.
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