Herrera Scores Hat Trick as Men’s Hockey Come Back against Rivier

NASHUA, NH. —  Trailing by two goals going into the third period, the MCLA Men's Hockey team stormed back to win 4-3 this evening at Rivier University. The win was the Trailblazer's first of their return and the first for the program since February 14, 2003, when they defeated UMass-Boston 11-1.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Saturday, November 4, 2023
• Score: MCLA 4, Rivier 3
• Records: MCLA Trailblazers 1-0-1 (MASCAC 0-0-1) | Rivier Raiders 0-2-1 (Conference N/A)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Trailing 2-0 as the clock ticked under five minutes remaining in the first period, Cade Herrera scored MCLA's first goal of the game with an assist from Sean Schifferl. A quick-thinking Connor Nagy stopped a puck that was attempting to escape the offensive zone on the blue line, and passed the puck back to Schifferl for a one-timer from the right point that the Raiders' goalie slowed down but couldn't stop. As the puck trickled through the netminder's legs, Herrara was there to speed it along into the back of the net.
• After another first-period Rivier goal and a scoreless second period, the Trailblazers returned to the ice for the third period facing a 3-1 deficit. Less than a minute into the third period Shifferl skated behind the net and sent the puck out through multiple Rivier defenders to Herrera who snapped off a shot from just above the left faceoff circle that whizzed past the shoulder of the goalie, knocking his water bottle to the ice and pulling MCLA within one goal.
• Less than five minutes later the Trailblazers fought back to even the score at three apiece when Easton Moore dumped the puck into the zone and followed it below the goal line. Addam Brunner came out of the corner with the puck and found Luke Rhoss streaking in to fire off a shot from just above the right faceoff circle through multiple defenders and into the upper left corner of the goal.
• With still more than 10 minutes remaining in regulation, Herrera broke that tie with his third goal of the night. Following a faceoff to the right of the goalie, Schifferl got to the puck behind the net and pushed it along the boards out to Spencer Craig at the left point. Craig's shot came in low and appeared to bounce off of a Rivier defender's skate out to Herrera in the right faceoff circle who lit the lamp before the goalie could react.
• Mathew Gover made 27 saves on 30 shots to record his first collegiate victory and improved his season record to 1-0-1.
• The win was also the first for MCLA head coach Jeremiah Ketts.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• The victory was the Trailblazers' first in 7568 days.
• Shots: MCLA 22, Rivier 30
• Saves: MCLA 27, Rivier 18
• Faceoffs Won: MCLA 28, Rivier 41
• Penalty/Minutes: MCLA 6/12:00, Rivier 3 for 6:00
• Power Plays: MCLA 0 for 2, Rivier 1 for 5

UP NEXT:

On Thursday, MCLA will be back in action when they travel to UMass-Dartmouth for a MASCAC matchup with the Corsairs at Hetland Arena. The puck will drop at 7:30 p.m.

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