UConn starts second half strong with comfortable victory over LIU

Some years, UConn’s first game back from winter break is a slog — a sloppy affair in which the team tries to knock off the rust after the holidays. Head coach Mike Cavanaugh adopted the term “Christmas hockey” from his mentor and legendary BC coach Jerry York.

“You don't know what you're gonna get sometimes,” Cavanaugh said a few years back.

That was far from the case in the Huskies’ 4-1 win over LIU on Wednesday, though. UConn dominated from the jump, owning possession and piling up the time on attack. It ultimately set a season-high with 46 shots on goal.

“I was really happy with the way we started the game,” Cavanaugh said. “After having a three-week layoff, I thought that was a really good start for us.”

UConn closed the first half with its two best performances of the season in a sweep over Merrimack. Despite going 25 days between games — and playing without Joey Muldowney, who was away with the US Collegiate Selects — the Huskies picked up where they left off.

“We've had a great week of practice,” Cavanaugh said. “I think our senior leadership is great. They were pushing the envelope. They were talking about it before the game: ‘Come out and start the game the right way.’”

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