Ricci, Cucci Score in 2-0 Win over Brown
NORTH ANDOVER, MA. – Rob Ricci (Brampton,
Ontario) and Joe Cucci (Melrose Park, IL)
scored 21 seconds apart in the third period, while Joe
Cannata (Wakefield, MA) stopped 18 shots for his second
career shutout as Merrimack blanked Brown University 2-0 Saturday
night at Lawler Arena.
With the Warriors on a two-man advantage in the third, Ricci
gathered a rebound off a Karl Stollery (Camrose,
Alberta) shot and wristed it past goaltender Mike Clemente
for the eventual game-winner. Jesse Todd (Camrose,
Alberta) also earned an assist on Ricci’s
team-leading ninth of the season.
Twenty-one seconds later with Merrimack still on the power play,
Pat Bowen’s (Marshfield, MA) shot was
stopped by Clemente, but the rebound went right to Cucci on the far
side, and he buried it for his fourth of the year. Fraser
Allan (North Battleford, Sask.) picked up the secondary
assist on the goal. For Bowen, it was his sixth assist in five
games, and he extended his point streak to four games.
That was all Cannata needed as the freshman stopped 18 shots for
his first career home shutout. Merrimack outshot the Bears 41-18,
including 14-5 in the third period.
Pat Kimball (Framingham, MA), who had an apparent
goal disallowed early in the third, led the Warriors with seven
shots, while Ricci added six.
Clemente finished with 39 saves as the Bears fell to 2-17-4
overall.
Merrimack’s power play has scored in three straight games and
registered two goals in each of its games over the weekend.
Merrimack (6-17-3, 2-15-2 HEA) hosts the University of Vermont next
Friday and Saturday night at Lawler Arena.
