Herrera Picks Up Hat Trick but Men’s Hockey Fall to Anna Maria

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The MCLA Men's Ice Hockey team returned to action this evening, welcoming Anna Maria College into the Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink for a MASCAC matchup with the AMCATs. Cade Herrera's hat trick wasn't enough for the Trailblazers to pull this one out as eight different players scored for Anna Maria.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Saturday, February 8, 2025
• Score: Anna Maria 8, MCLA 3
• Records: Anna Maria College AMCATs 15-5-0 (MASCAC 11-2-0) | MCLA Trailblazers 3-16-1 (MASCAC 3-9-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED (Courtesy of Anna Maria College Athletics)

• On Saturday, February 8th the Anna Maria College men's ice hockey team traveled to North Adams, MA to take on the Trailblazers of MCLA for a MASCAC conference matchup. The AMCATS won the game 8-3.
• The AMCATS dominated the first period, opening up the scoring just nine minutes into the game with a goal from Tobias Omholt off a pas from Justin Taylor. Penalties would be the Trailblazers worst enemy as the AMCATS capitalized on two power play opportunities at the end of the period. Samson Mouland notched the first power play goal with help from Omholt and Brandon Della Paolera. Braeden McKinnon would score the AMCATS third goal of the game with one second left to play in the first period.
• Trailing by three, the Trailblazers notched their first goal of the evening just two minutes into the second period however it was Nick Hussa who answered with the AMCATS fourth goal of the evening almost four minutes later. MCLA answered back quickly making it a 4-2 game but the AMCATS would again capitalize on a power play opportunity after Matthew Byrne found the back of the net to regain the three goal lead over the Trailblazers. Patrick Crooks closed out the second period scoring with his first career NCAA goal making it 6-2 as the game entered the third period.
• An early MCLA goal opened up the third period action however a pair of AMCATS goals would seal the game putting any chance of a comeback out of reach for the Trailblazers. Dylan McElhinney and Brandon Della Paolera recorded the AMCATS third period goals to help secure the 8-3 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Shots: Anna Maria 65, MCLA 30
• Saves: Anna Maria 27, MCLA 57
• Faceoffs Won: Anna Maria 36, MCLA 42

UP NEXT:

On Thursday, MCLA will be back in action when it travels to Worcester State at the Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center for a MASCAC matchup with the Lancers. The puck will drop at 7:30 p.m.

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