In its first game back from the winter break, Army erased a two-goal deficit in the third period to earn a 3-3 tie with Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rival Connecticut Friday night before 1,420 fans at Tate Rink.
Black Knights’ sophomore left winger Jon Boyle evened the score with just over two minutes remaining in regulation when he banked a shot off UConn goalie Jason Carey from an impossible angle into the Huskies’ net. Boyle was standing along the goal line just to the left of the net when he corralled a shot from teammate Nick Cahill and fired the puck on goal.
It was Boyle’s third tally of the season and helped Army (4-11-3/2-6-3) earn a much-needed point in the MAAC standings as it begins the second half of the season.
Senior defenseman Josh Morino pulled the Black Knights to within one when his wrister from the right faceoff circle beat Carey high to his stick side at 8:08 of the third.
Freshman left winger Chris Casey, playing in his first game since breaking an ankle at Mercyhurst on Nov. 10, put the Black Knights on the board in the first period when he scored just 12 seconds after UConn had taken a 1-0 lead. Despite missing eight weeks due to injury, Casey is tied for third on the team with five goals.
The Huskies’ Matt Grew scored all three goals for the visitors, one in each of the three periods, as he notched his first career hat trick. His final marker of the evening gave UConn (4-9-4/3-5-3) a 3-1 lead 3:48 into the third.
Army freshman netminder John Yaros made a career-high 44 saves for the Black Knights. His counterpart Carey stopped 34 shots for the Huskies.
UConn outshot Army 4-2 in a wild overtime period as both teams desperately tried to pick up an extra point in the standings. The Huskies also held a 47-37 advantage in shots for the game.
It was the second time this season that the Huskies and Black Knights have tied this season. The teams skated to a 2-2 tie up in Storrs, Conn., the day after Thanksgiving.
These same two teams will go at it again Saturday night at Tate Rink. Game time is 7 p.m.
