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HUNTSVILLE | The University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey team lost to visiting Connecticut by a score of 5-2 on Friday night at the Von Braun Center to open the 2015-16 season. UAH is now 0-1-0, while UConn owns a 1-0-0 record.

The Huskies started the scoring quickly on Friday night as the visitors went ahead 1-0 on a goal by Patrick Kirtland – assisted by David Drake – 26 seconds into the contest.

However, UAH rebounded later in the first period as Brennan Saulnier picked up the puck on a turnover behind the net and sent it sailing into the bottom left of the goal for an unassisted marker to tie the game at 1-1 at 7:16 in the opening frame.

The Chargers would take their first lead of the season at 2-1 at 18:11 of the first as 2014-15 WCHA All-Rookie honoree Max McHugh scored his first of the season with assists from alternate captains Chad Brears and Frank Misuraca.

UConn bounced back to tie the contest early in the second period with Joseph Masonius scoring his first goal of the season at 2:25, thanks to helpers from Spencer Naas and Kyle Huson. The Huskies' Max Letunov would follow with the three final goals of the game for a hat trick, scoring at 15:04 of the second, 3:46 of the third and 19:53 of the third. His final goal was with an empty net for the Chargers.

Junior Carmine Guerriero's record will fall to 0-1-0, despite accruing 30 saves in the game. The Montreal, Quebec, native made a game-high 11 saves in the first, followed by 10 in the second and nine in the third.

UAH looks ahead to game two of this non-conference series tomorrow at the Von Braun Center against UConn. Puck drops at 7:07 p.m.