UConn Men's Hockey Falls to Michigan State in NCAA Tournament

Huskies' season ends with 2-1 loss despite outshooting Spartans 42-22

Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:10pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The UConn men's ice hockey team put forth a valiant effort but fell short against Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament regional, losing 2-1 despite outshooting the Spartans 42-22. UConn took an early lead but couldn't hold on as Michigan State scored twice to advance.

Why it matters

This loss ends UConn's season, but the Huskies made history by reaching back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time ever. The game highlighted the competitiveness of the UConn program, which has become a consistent contender in recent years.

The details

UConn senior forward Taylor Heaslip scored the opening goal to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead in the first period. But Michigan State answered with a power-play goal late in the period to tie it. The Spartans then scored the game-winner in the second period on a goal by Porter Martone. Michigan State goalie Trey Augustine made 41 saves to preserve the victory.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 26, 2026 in Worcester, Massachusetts.
  • UConn took a 1-0 lead with 4:33 left in the first period.
  • Michigan State tied the game with just over a minute remaining in the first period.
  • Porter Martone scored the game-winning goal for Michigan State with 8:06 left in the second period.

The players

Taylor Heaslip

A senior forward for the UConn men's hockey team who scored the opening goal.

Ryker Lee

A freshman forward for Michigan State who scored the game-tying goal on the power play.

Porter Martone

The Michigan State player who scored the game-winning goal in the second period.

Trey Augustine

The Michigan State goaltender who made 41 saves to lead the Spartans to victory.

Mike Cavanaugh

The head coach of the UConn men's hockey team.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I thought UConn was really good. I thought they were the better team. We've been on the other end of that and lost. I thought Trey (Augustine) was the best player on the ice by a country mile. … A ton of respect for UConn, for sure. A tough out.”

— Adam Nightengale, Michigan State Head Coach

“It's a funny game sometimes. Pucks don't go in for you. I thought we were around the net, we had great chances. It's frustrating.”

— Mike Cavanaugh, UConn Head Coach

“We may hold that right now but we want our sophomores, juniors, the rest of the guys after us to beat it.”

— Taylor Heaslip, UConn Senior Forward

What’s next

The Huskies' season has come to an end with this loss, but the program continues to make strides and reach new heights. The team will look to build on this experience and come back even stronger next season.

The takeaway

Despite the disappointing loss, UConn's men's hockey team has established itself as a consistent contender, reaching back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time in program history. The Huskies' competitive spirit and resilience in this game showcased the growth of the program under Coach Cavanaugh.