Wildcats Earn 4-1 Win at UMass in HE Opener

Friday, October 28

Amherst, MA

7:00 PM

University of New Hampshire

2-3-0, 1-0-0HEA

University of Massachusetts

2-3-0, 0-1-0HEA

New Hampshire

Massachusetts

Photo by: Rich Gagnon

10/28/2016 6:57:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score Live Audio Live Video Live Stats

AMHERST, Mass. -- The University of New Hampshire men's hockey team won its Hockey East Association opening game at the University of Massachusetts Friday night, 4-1.

GAME INFORMATION
Date: October 28, 2016
Score: New Hampshire 4, Massachusetts 1
Records: New Hampshire (2-3-0, 1-0-0 HE), Massachusetts (2-3-0, 0-1-0 HE)
Location: Mullins Center - Amherst, Mass.
Attendance: 2,465
Goal Scorers: New Hampshire – Michael McNicholas (Kelleher, Cleland) - 16:04, first period (ppg), Liam Blackburn (van Riemsdyk, Grasso) - 2:59, second period, Dylan Maller (Eiserman, Vela) - 00:52, third period, Shane Eiserman (Nazarian, Vela), 9:30, third period (ppg)
Massachusetts – Shane Bear (Chukarov, Plevy) - 13:54, second period (ppg)
Goaltenders: UNH – Danny Tirone - 26 saves - 60:00 played - 2-2-0
Massachusetts – Ryan Wischow - 27 saves - 60:00 played - 1-1-0
Next home game: Saturday, Oct. 29, vs. Merrimack at Whittemore Center (7 p.m.) // Tickets at www.unhwildcats.com

UNH Starters
LW: Jason Salvaggio
C: Michael McNicholas
RW: Tyler Kelleher
LD: Matias Cleland
RD: Cameron Marks
G: Danny Tirone

First Period
The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead at 16:04 of the first as junior Michael McNicholas (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) scored a power play goal. The play was set up by Matias Cleland (Longmeadow, Mass.) at the point who slid a pass over to Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) on the left side. Kelleher played a backhanded pass to McNicholas who fired a one-timer into the net.

Second Period
Freshman forward Liam Blackburn (Prince George, British Columbia) gave UNH a 2-0 lead at the 2:59 mark of the second period with his first collegiate goal. Patrick Grasso (Ankeny, Iowa) played a pass to Brendan van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) behind the UMass net. van Riemsdyk set up Blackburn with a pass at the top of the crease as he one-timed it into the net.

While on a 5-on-3 advantage, the Minutemen cut their deficit to one as Shane Bear scored at 13:54. Austin Plevy set up Ivan Chukarov near the faceoff circle in the UNH zone. Chukarov played a pass to Bear who fired a one-timer that UNH netminder Danny Tirone (Trumbull, Conn.) got a piece of, but could not keep out of the net.

Third Period
Senior blueliner Dylan Maller (Parkland, Fla.) made it 3-1 just 52 seconds into the third period as he scored his second goal of the season. The play started when Maller stripped UMass of the puck and made a quick pass to Marcus Vela (Burnaby, British Columbia) who found Maller again. Maller gave the pick to Shane Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.) in the neutral zone who skated up with it. He found Maller streaking into the UMass zone and played a pass to him who then wrapped around the goal and backhanded his shot in.

Eiserman gave UNH a three-goal cushion at 9:30 of the third period with his first of the season. Vela hurried the puck along the boards to Eiserman behind the UMass net who then passed it to Ara Nazarian (Boxford, Mass.) along the boards to the left of the net. He found Eiserman at the top of the crease, passed it to him, and Eiserman flipped the puck up into the net.

PENALTIES
New Hampshire: 6 penalties - 12 minutes
UMass: 7 penalties - 14 minutes

SPECIAL TEAMS
New Hampshire: 2-for-7
UMass: 1-for-6

NEW HAMPSHIRE LEADERS
Points: Eiserman (2), Vela (2)
Goals: McNicholas (1), Blackburn (1), Maller (1), Eiserman (1)
Assists: - Vela (2)
Shots: Kelleher (4)

UMASS LEADERS
Points: Bear (1), Chukarov (1), Plevy (1)
Goals: Bear (1)
Assists: Chukarov (1), Plevy (1)
Shots: Plevy (5)