The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Yale defeats UConn at Friendship Four in Belfast
Staff report
Sophomore Kevin O’Neil scored two goals to lead Yale to a 6-3 victory over UConn in the third-place game at Friendship Four tournament Saturday in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
O’Neil helped the Bulldogs (3-2-2) break open a 2-2 game midway through the second period. Joe Snively, Luke Stevens, Curtis Hall and Brett Jewell also scored for Yale, while senior goalie Sam Tucker made 34 saves.
“It was really special out there,” said O’Neil, who had lots of family with Irish heritage in the stands. “This [experience in Belfast] really makes me appreciate what we have. It’s been a great week here.”
Stevens’ goal 16 seconds into the second tied it at 1-1 and got things going for the Elis, who leave Belfast Sunday with a tie (1-1 with Union) and a win along with a total of seven goals.
Alexander Payusov, Miles Gendron and Max Kalter scored for UConn (5-8-1).
“We got scoring from all four lines. It takes a lot of pressure off you when you put pucks in the net,” Yale coach Keith Allain said. “But this was a lot closer than a 6-3 game.”
Yale and UConn each had 37 shots on goal and one power-play tally. They meet again in New Haven on New Year’s Eve at 4 p.m.
Union beat Boston University 2-1 in the tournament’s championship game.