#13/15 Wildcats Fall to Merrimack, 4-3

Sunday, December 10

Durham, N.H.

4 PM

University of New Hampshire

9-7-1, 4-5-1HEA

Merrimack

4-9-3, 2-6-1HEA

Team	1	2	3	F
Merrimack	3	1	0	4
New Hampshire	1	0	2	3

Senior forward Michael McNicholas

Photo by: Helene Bartsch

12/10/2017 3:57:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score Video Highlights

By: UNH Wildcats

DURHAM, N.H. – With the Wildcats trailing 4-1 in the third period, junior forward Marcus Vela (Burnaby, British Columbia) and sophomore forward Patrick Grasso (Ankeny, Iowa) each scored a goal to cut the Warriors lead to 4-3, but the No. 13/15 University of New Hampshire men's hockey team fell to Merrimack, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at the Whittemore Center.

Senior forward Michael McNicholas (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) and Grasso each posted two points with one goal and one assist. The Wildcats are now 9-7-1 (4-5-1 HEA) and the Warriors are 4-9-3 (2-6-1 HEA).

NEXT HOME GAME

The Wildcats will return to the Whittemore Center on Saturday, Jan. 6, to take on Brown at 7:00 p.m. The game will be "Youth Hockey Night" and there will be a hockey lace bracelet giveaway. Tickets can be purchased at the Whittemore Center Box Office, online at UNHWildcats.com or by calling 603-862-4000.

Score: Merrimack 4, New Hampshire 3
Records: New Hampshire (9-7-1, 4-5-1 HEA); Merrimack (4-9-3, 2-6-1 HEA)
Location: Durham, N.H. (Whittemore Center)
Date: Sunday, December 10, 2017
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Attendance: 3,731

HOW IT HAPPENED

McNicholas put the Wildcats on the board first, just 34 seconds into the game. Senior linemate Jason Salvaggio (Hanson, Mass.) and Grasso each had an assist on the goal.
Merrimack's Derek Petti tied the game at 6:57 of the first with a wrist shot from in front of the net.
Merrimack's Sami Tavernier put the Warriors on top shortly after at 8:52 of the first.
Then at 16:36, Merrimack's Alfred Larsson found the back of the net as the Warriors took a 3-1 lead.
Tyler Irvine made it a 4-1 game at 6:43 of the second.
Freshman netminder Mike Robinson (Bedford, N.H.) took over for the Wildcats after the goal.
Vela found the back of the net at 2:17 of the third period. Junior Ara Nazarian (Boxford, Mass.) and senior Shane Eiserman (Newburyport, Mass.) had assists on the goal.
Then just 1:33 later, Grasso capitalized on a power play chance to cut the difference to 4-3. McNicholas and freshman defenseman Max Gildon (Plano, Texas) each tallied an assist on the goal.
UNH was unable to score the equalizer as the Warriors posted the 4-3 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Senior goaltender Danny Tirone (Trumbull, Conn.) made seven saves, while Robinson posted 12. Craig Pantano tallied 25 saves to earn the win and improve to 4-4-1.
UNH outshot Merrimack, 28-23, while the Wildcats went 1-6 on the power play and the Warriors went 0-4.
Merrimack won 28 faceoffs to New Hampshire's 20.

UP NEXT

The Wildcats will compete at the Ledyard Classic on Dec. 29-30 in Hanover, N.H., at Thompson Arena. The Wildcats will take on Dartmouth on Dec. 29 at 7:00 p.m. and Yale on Dec. 30 at 4:00 p.m.

BE PART OF THE ACTION THIS SEASON

All fans can purchase tickets at the Whittemore Center Box Office, online at UNHWildcats.com or by calling 603-862-4000.

STAY CONNECTED

There are numerous ways to stay connected with the UNH men's hockey team. For the most up-to-date information, visit UNHWildcats.com or follow the Wildcats on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.