Wildcats win third straight game and improve to 5-2-1
DURHAM, N.H. –Trailing 1-0 in the second period, the Wildcats scored back-to-back goals 13 seconds apart as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team defeated No. 2 UMass, 3-1, Sunday afternoon at the Whittemore Center. Sophomore Ryan Verrier (Reading, Mass.) scored his first career goal to tie up the game and junior Max Gildon (Plano, Texas) recorded the game-winner, while senior captain Anthony Wyse added an empty net goal (Newton, Mass.). Junior Mike Robinson (Bedford, N.H.) had an outstanding performance with 27 saves.
The Wildcats defense impressed as they held UMass to just one goal, despite the Minutemen averaging 4.43 goals per game this season, which ranked third nationally entering the game. With the win, the Wildcats have won three straight and improve to 5-2-1 overall (3-1-0 HEA), while UMass is now 6-2-0 (2-2-0 HEA). The game was Salute to Service presented by Service Credit Union as Military Veterans were honored.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats will travel to Orono on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16, to take on Maine as part of the Border Battle, presented by Buffalo Wild Wings. Friday's game is at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday's contest will be on NESNplus at 7 p.m.
NEXT HOME GAMES: The Wildcats will return to the Whitt when they host Michigan on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22-23 at 7 p.m. The second of the six-set trading card series will be given out at the Friday game, while the game on Saturday is presented by Tuscan Brands as a UNH scarf will be the giveaway. Individual game tickets with affordable options that start as low as $9 and a convenient six-ticket flexible miniplan can now be purchased for the season by calling the Whittemore Center Box Office at (603) 862-4000 or by visiting UNHWildcats.com.
NOVEMBER CHILL: Saturday, Nov. 23 will also be the "November Chill" from 4-6 p.m. at Carpenter Plaza at the Whittemore Center. Fans are invited to "chill" between football and hockey games and enjoy a full day with the 'Cats. You won't want to miss a minute of the action when UNH Football takes on CAA-rival Maine in a Saturday matinée. Then, later in the evening, the Wildcats will take to the ice against Michigan. That's reason enough to stay on campus, but the down-time can be spent at the family-friendly November Chill. Enjoy food, music and activities right outside the Whittemore Center. The first 1,000 fans received military buffs (Photo by Andrew Yourell)
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS Durham Fire Department (Photo by Andrew Yourell) PHOTO GALLERY The national anthem was performed by Exeter Elementary School (Photo by Andrew Yourell)
HOW IT HAPPENED
At 14:06 of the first period, Robinson made a clutch save to keep the score at 0-0. Oliver Chau stole the puck and attacked the goal, sending a pass across the slot to Ty Farmer for a low shot, but Robinson covered the net to make the save.
UNH outshot UMass 14-7 in the first period. The Wildcats went 0-3 on the power play, while the Minutemen went 0-1.
UMass was first on the board with a goal from Mitchell Chaffee 3:01 into the second period. John Leonard passed the puck up the boards to Chaffee, who sent it out to Zac Jones at the blue line. Jones took a shot that tipped off Chaffee's stick in the slot and went into the upper glove-side of the net.
The Wildcats tied the game up at 8:16 of the second period off a goal by Verrier. Sophomore Angus Crookshank (North Vancouver, British Columbia) passed to sophomore Jackson Pierson (Zionsville, Ind.) behind the net who knocked it out to Verrier for a shot that was touched by a UMass player and went over the shoulder of Filip Lindberg.
Ryan Verrier scored his first collegiate goal (Photo by Andrew Yourell)
Just 13 seconds later, UNH took the lead during the team's fifth power play of the game. Junior Patrick Grasso (Ankeny, Iowa) gathered the puck off the faceoff and sent it back to Gildon just inside the blue line who ripped a shot that hit the glove-side post and went into the back of the net. Pierson had the second assist.
Max Gildon leads the nation in points by defensemen (Photo by Andrew Yourell)
UMass earned a power play at 15:41 in the third. Chaffee ripped a shot across the slot that ricocheted off the left post as UNH killed the penalty.
With 28.1 seconds left in the game, the Wildcats clinched the victory with an empty net goal by Wyse for a final score of 3-1.
Anthony Wyse scored his eighth career goal (Photo by Andrew Yourell)
INSIDE THE NUMBERS Mike Robinson made 27 saves to earn the win.
UNH outshot UMass by a 29-28 margin.
Robinson made 27 saves, while Lindberg recorded 26.
The Wildcats went 1-6 on the power play and the Minutemen went 1-3.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
The last time UNH defeated a No. 2 team was in the Whittemore Center on February 14, 2015, topping BU 4-3.
Verrier's goal was the first of his career.
UNH is 2-0-0 against nationally ranked teams this season, as the Wildcats also defeated No. 15 Boston College, 1-0, on Nov. 1.
Gildon has recorded a point in seven of the eight games UNH has played this season, recording four goals and eight assists for 12 points. His 12 points lead the nation by defensemen.
Pierson has six assists over the last two games.
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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