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University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
9-14-2/4-8-1
University of Notre Dame
10-14-3/5-5-3
Downing Records 100th Career Point, Men's Hockey Downs Notre Dame 5-2
1/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Senior forward Grayson Downing (Abbottsford, British Columbia) registered his 100th career point with two assists as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team skated to a 5-2 win at the University of Notre Dame at Compton Family Ice Arena.
The win improves the Wildcats' record to 9-14-2 overall and to 4-8-1 in Hockey East play while the Fighting Irish fall to 10-14-3 overall and to 5-5-3 in league action. Senior Matt Willows (Congers, N.Y.) and freshman Andrew Poturalski (Williamsville, N.Y.) each recorded a pair of goals while freshman Warren Foegele (Unionville, Ontario) scored one. Downing became just the 72 skater to reach the Century Club and the first since Kevin Goumas ('14) on Nov. 2, 2013. The victory also marked the 550th of head coach Dick Umile's career.
Foegele got the 'Cats on the board just 2:13 into the first period as he tallied his second goal of the season. The play started with junior Kyle Smith (Lumberton, N.J.) sending a pass over to Shane Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.). Eiserman fed the puck to Foegele who was waiting on the left post of the net and jammed the puck past Notre Dame netminder Cal Petersen and into the goal.
Sophomore blueliner Matias Cleland (Longmont, Colo.) nearly got UNH its second goal of the game with a blast from the blueline through traffic. The shot was saved by Petersen and the rebound was covered up to end the threat.
On the other end of the ice, freshman netminder Danny Tirone (Trumbull, Conn.) was perfect in the first period as he saved all five shots he faced from Notre Dame. Petersen made saves on five of six shots faced from the Wildcats.
Poturalski put the Wildcats up four goals as he scored his second of the night with 7:49 left in the second period. His linemates Eiserman and Foegele earned assists on the play. The goal was the ninth of the season for the rookie. Eiserman went in a won a puck battle in the corner and played it to Foegele behind the Notre Dame net. Foegele played a pass to Poturalski in front of the net who one-timed the shot into the top corner of the net.
Notre Dame battled back as they scored twice in the last minute of the second period. Mario Lucia got UND on the board with 44 seconds left during a 4-on-3 situation while Vince Hinostroza scored with two seconds remaining in the frame. Through two periods, UNH led by a score of 4-2. Tirone had 15 saves through two periods while Katunar had six in relief for the Fighting Irish.
With 5:03 left in the third period, Willows recorded his second goal of the night and 12th of the season as he ripped a shot that bounced up and over Katunar and trickled over the line. Thrush recorded his second assist of the night on the play while Downing did as well. The assist was the 100th point of his career.
Tirone recorded 25 saves in net for the Wildcats to earn his fourth win of the season and improve to 4-1-0. Petersen got the loss in net for the Fighting Irish as he allowed three goals on 11 shots faced. Katunar made 14 saves on 16 shots in 33:41 of relief. Petersen's record falls to 6-11-2.
The Wildcats went 1-for-4 on the power play while the Fighting Irish went 2-for-4 with the advantage.
The two teams conclude the series tomorrow night with a 6:40 game. The game is set to be aired live on NBC Sports Network.
