AMHERST, Mass. – Senior assistant captain Ara Nazarian (Boxford, Mass.) and sophomore Charlie Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) each scored for the Wildcats, and sophomore goalie Mike Robinson (Bedford, N.H.) made 30 saves as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team fell to No. 4 UMass, 4-2, on Sunday afternoon at the Mullins Center.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats return to the Whittemore Center on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 23-24, with a two-game series versus Miami at 7:00 p.m. You can buy tickets by calling the Whittemore Center Box Office at (603) 862-4000 or by visiting UNHWildcats.com.
On Friday, young Wildcat fans wearing their youth hockey jerseys will earn a helmet decal and voucher to a future game. As part of Fan Appreciation Friday, the first 1,000 fans will receive the first set of six in a trading card series! Make sure you collect them all! Also, players from the men's ice hockey team will be in the lobby after the game to sign autographs.
On Saturday, tap into your inner Don Johnson and join us for Miami Vice Night. Mullets and white jackets encouraged. Sunglasses awarded to the first 1,000 fans.
The Minutemen opened up the scoring at 6:56 of the first period on the man advantage as Cale Makar ripped a wrist shot from the point that was tipped in front by Jacob Pritchard to put UMass ahead 1-0.
On the power play, UMass extended its lead to 2-0 at 14:42 of the first as John Leonard knocked in a short pass from Makar at the right circle.
UMass outshot UNH 9-8 during the first period. UNH went 0-1 on the man advantage while UMass went 2-2.
At 8:02 of the second period and with the Minutemen on the power play, Mitchell Chaffee punched in a loose puck during a scramble in front of the net to give UMass a 3-0 lead.
At 9:45 of the second period UNH cut the lead to 3-1 as Nazarian gained the blue line on a breakaway and buried a backhander over the glove side of Matt Murray.
Charlie Kelleher scored his first goal of the season (Photo by China Wong)
The Wildcats struck again at 14:22 of the second with a power play goal, as sophomore Max Gildon (Plano, Texas.) snapped a wrist shot on goal from the left circle that found Kelleher in front and he redirected it past Murray to make it 3-2. Freshman Jackson Pierson (Zionsville, Ind.) also posted an assist on the goal.
With 3:11 remaining in the second period, John Leonard extended the UMass lead to 4-2 as he stormed up the left wing, broke in alone and fired a shot on goal, and the rebound bounced out to Anthony Del Gaizo and he punched it past Robinson.
UMass outshot UNH 12-8 in the second period. UNH went 1-3 on the power play while UMass went 1-1.
With 2:06 remaining in the third period, the Wildcats pulled Robinson but were unable to score as UMass secured the 4-2 victory.
· INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Marcus Vela (Photo by China Wong)
UMass outshot UNH by a 34-20 margin.
Robinson made 30 saves, while Murray recorded 18
The Wildcats went 1-5 on the power play while the Minutemen went 3-4.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
Nazarian scored his fifth goal of the season and 26th of his career. He is currently on a five-game point streak with four goals and one assist for five points. He has netted a goal in four consecutive games. His five game point streak is the longest of any Wildcat this season.
Kelleher is currently on a three-game point streak and his goal was his first of the season.
Gildon is currently on a four-game point streak with four assists.
Pierson is also on a four-game point streak with two goals and two assists.
Max Gildon is on a four-game point streak (Photo by China Wong)
STAY CONNECTED
There are numerous ways to stay connected with the UNH men's hockey team. Follow the Wildcats on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
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