NORTHFIELD, Vt. (January 30, 2026) — The UMass Boston men's ice hockey team (10-7-1, 5-5-1 LEC) erased multiple deficits and forced overtime before ultimately falling in a shootout, 3–2, at Norwich University (11-5-3, 8-2-2 LEC) on Tuesday night.
The Beacons weathered an early push from the Cadets in the opening period, with Alex Koenig (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) making several key stops to keep the game scoreless through the first half of the frame. Norwich capitalized with two even-strength goals in a 16-second span midway through the period, but UMass Boston responded with sustained pressure and strong puck possession to close out the opening 20 minutes.
UMass Boston answered quickly to start the second period, cutting the deficit in half just 20 seconds in. Kyle Isenberg (Anaheim, Calif.) finished a crisp offensive sequence off feeds from Jude Kurtas (Hillsborough, N.J.) and Jack Mortson (Detroit, Mich.) to make it a one-goal game and swing momentum back to the Beacons. UMB continued to press throughout the period, generating quality chances while killing off a Norwich power play and leaning on Koenig's steady play in net to keep the score tight.
The Beacons completed the comeback early in the third period when Chris Merryman (Peabody, Mass.) buried the game-tying goal at 4:20, again off assists from Mortson and Kurtas. UMass Boston carried momentum for stretches of the final frame, trading chances with Norwich while maintaining defensive structure and winning key faceoffs in the neutral zone.
Neither team found the back of the net over the final 15 minutes of regulation or during the five-minute overtime, as both goaltenders stood tall. Koenig turned aside multiple point-blank opportunities late in regulation and overtime to extend the game, while UMass Boston generated several dangerous looks of its own.
The contest was ultimately decided in a shootout, where Norwich converted once to claim the extra point. Koenig finished the night with a strong overall performance between the pipes, recording a career-high 41 saves including a scoreless third period where he faced 23 shots.
UMass Boston finished the game with goals from Isenberg and Merryman and assists from Mortson and Kurtas on both tallies, showcasing balanced scoring and line chemistry. The Beacons' ability to respond after falling behind twice highlighted their resilience and composure in a tightly contested conference matchup.
UMass Boston will look to carry its momentum into Saturday's road matchup at Castleton, Vt. against Vermont State University Castleton to close out the weekend trip.
--FIND A WAY--
