Wildcats Down Black Bears, 6-4

Friday, December 30

7:00 PM

University of New Hampshire

9-7-2

University of Maine

7-10-3

Maine

New Hampshire

Photo by: Joey Walker

12/30/2016 10:09:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

GAME INFORMATION
Date: December 30, 2016 (7 p.m.)
Score: New Hampshire 6, Maine 4
New Records: New Hampshire (9-7-2) // Maine (7-10-3)
Location: SNHU Arena - Manchester, N.H.

Goal Scorers: New Hampshire – Jason Salvaggio (McNicholas, Kelleher) - 00:28 - First Period // Shane Eiserman (unassisted) - 9:02 - First Period // Tyler Kelleher (Cleland, Salvaggio) - 5:58 - Second Period // Justin Fregona (Nazarian) - 15:30 - Second Period // Jason Salvaggio (Kelleher, Marks) - 14:02 - Third Period // Tyler Kelleher (Salvaggio, McNicholas) - 18:53 - Third Period
Maine - Ryan Smith (Becker, Lacroix) - 1:16 - First Period // Eric Schurhamer (Shea) - 00:44 - Second Period // Eric Schurhamer (Brown) - 19:08 - Second Period // Patrick Holway (Hayes, Housakos) - 19:50 - Third Period
Goaltenders: UNH – Danny Tirone (9-5-2) - 33 saves (12 | 10 | 11) - 60:00 minutes played
Maine - Rob McGovern (6-7-3) - 8 saves (7 | 1 | -) no decision
                                     Matt Morris (1-3-0) - 11 saves (- | 3 | 8)

UNH Starters                  Maine Starters
LW: Salvaggio                  LW: Byron
C: McNicholas                  C: Brown
RW: Kelleher                      RW: Robbins
LD: Cleland                      LD: Hamilton
RD: Marks                          RD: Michel
G: Tirone                          G: McGovern

WHAT HAPPENED
The Wildcats jumped out ahead just 28 seconds into the first period as junior Jason Salvaggio (Hanson, Mass.) scored his 10th goal of the season. Junior defenseman Cameron Marks (North Vancouver, British Columbia) fed a pass up ice that senior forward Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) redirected into the neutral zone to junior Michael McNicholas (Manhattan Beach, Calif.). McNicholas picked up the puck and sent it to Salvaggio who ripped a wrister into the net past Maine netminder Rob McGovern.

The Black Bears leveled the score at the 1:16 mark of the first with a goal by Ryan Smith, his third of the season. Smith received a pass from Cedric Lacroix and then fired a shot from just outside the faceoff circle and into the net.

Junior Shane Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.) gave UNH a 2-1 lead at 9:02 of the first with his third goal of the year. During shorthanded play, Eiserman stripped a Maine defenseman of the puck and skated in alone against McGovern. He lifted his shot to the top corner of the net and in.

While on a power play, Maine tied the score at 2-2 44 seconds into the second period. Patrick Shea dished a pass to Eric Schurhamer just inside the point. Schurhamer fired a shot that made its way through traffic and into the net.

UNH regained the lead at 5:44 of the second period as Kelleher scored his 13th goal of the season. Salvaggio's initial clearing attempt was blocked, however senior captain Matias Cleland (Longmont, Colo.) found Kelleher in the neutral zone. Kelleher skated in with the puck and flipped his shot to the top corner of the net.

Rookie Justin Fregona (Mississauga, Ontario) increased UNH's lead to 4-2 with his first collegiate goal at 15:30 of the second period. Fregona stripped a Black Bear of the puck, skated in to the UNH zone and sniped a shot to the top left corner of the net.

With 52 seconds left in the second period, Maine cut the deficit to one on a goal by Schurhamer. Cam Brown picked the puck up in the Wildcat zone and dished it to Schurhamer who one-timed a shot into the net.

Salvaggio tallied his second goal of the night at 14:02 of the third period for his 11th of the year. Marks played a pass to Kelleher behind the Maine net who then found Salvaggio in the slot for the one-time goal. Kelleher recorded his fourth point of the night at 1:07 left in the third period with his 14th goal of the year. McNicholas and Salvaggio recorded assists on the play.

Maine narrowed the score to 6-4 with a goal by Patrick Holway. Malcolm Hayes and Housakos recorded assists on the play.

PENALTIES
New Hampshire: 4 penalties - 8 minutes
Maine: 3 penalties - 6 minutes

SPECIAL TEAMS
New Hampshire: 0-for-3
Maine: 2-for-4

NEW HAMPSHIRE LEADERS
Points: Jason Salvaggio (4), Tyler Kelleher (4)
Goals: Salvaggio (2), Kelleher (2)
Assists: Salvaggio (2), McNicholas (2), Kelleher (2)

MAINE LEADERS
Points: Eric Schurhamer (2)
Goals: Schurhamer (2)
Assists: Malcolm Hayes (1), Patrick Shea (1), Cam Brown (1), Sam Becker (1), Cedric Lacroix (1)