Brendan van Riemsdyk posts career-best three points.
DURHAM, N.H. – Junior Brendan van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J) posted two goals and an assist for a career-best three points, but it wasn't enough as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team fell to No. 12 Northeastern, 6-3, on Friday night at the Whittemore Center. Despite the loss, UNH has clinched a spot in the Hockey East playoffs due to BU defeating Vermont 1-0 in overtime. The Wildcats are now 11-11-8 overall (7-8-5 HEA) while Northeastern improves to 20-9-1 (12-7-1 HEA).
UP NEXT: The two-game home series against Northeastern concludes on Saturday at 7 p.m. and can be watched on NESN. Saturday is Star Wars Night presented by UniFirst as blue light sabers will be given away to the first 500 kids. Star Wars Troopers will be in attendance for photos. Hot dogs will be $1. You can buy tickets by calling the Whittemore Center Box Office at (603) 862-4000 or by visiting UNHWildcats.com. The Dover Stars joined the Wildcats during the national anthem (Photo by Jessica Speechley).
Score: Northeastern 6, New Hampshire 3 Records: UNH (11-11-8, 7-8-5 HEA), Northeastern (20-9-1, 12-7-1 HEA) Location: Durham, N.H. (Whittemore Center) Date: Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 Time: 7 p.m. Attendance: 5,378 Students from the Paul School from Sanbornville, N.H. performed the national anthem (Photo by Jessica Speechley).
PHOTO GALLERY Chris Miller at the post game autograph session for fans (Photo by Jessica Speechley)
HOW IT HAPPENED
At 10:25 in the first period, UNH put up the first goal of the game with a shot from the slot by van Riemsdyk to the upper glove-side of the net. The goal was assisted by sophomore Eric MacAdams (Salem, Mass.) who forced a turnover to free the puck for van Riemsdyk.
Northeastern tied up the game at 15:18 with a power play goal scored by Jeremy Davies. Davies took his shot from the top of the slot and netted it into the upper-stick side of the goal.
The Wildcats outshot the Huskies 13-10 in the first period, while Northeastern went 1-1 on the power play.
UNH took the lead again at 2:31 of the second period after senior captain Marcus Vela (Burnaby, British Columbia) tipped the puck past Northeastern goalie Cayden Primeau off a shot from sophomore Benton Maass (Elk River, Minn.). van Riemsdyk also posted an assist on the goal.
At 5:01, the Wildcats increased their lead to 3-1 when van Riemsdyk tallied his second goal of the game. Sophomore Max Gildon (Plano, Texas) ripped a shot from the point that was tipped by MacAdams in front of the net and slipped underneath Primeau's pads. van Riemsdyk was there to poke the puck into the net.
Brendan van Riemsdyk posted a career-best three points.
The Huskies cut the deficit to 3-2 at 7:14 with a power play goal scored by Liam Pecararo. Brandon Hawkins shot the puck from the slot and Zach Solow tipped it to the right of UNH sophomore goalie Mike Robinson (Bedford, N.H.) where Pecararo was there to rip it to the upper-glove side of the net.
Northeastern scored again at 16:15 to tie the game up 3-3. Matt Filipe netted a shorthanded goal off a pass across the slot from Solow.
The Huskies went on to take the lead at 18:56 when Pecararo scored his second goal of the game. Biagio Lerario gave the puck to Pecararo who then carried it across the front of the net and buried it to the lower stick side.
Northeastern outshot UNH 14-12 in the second period, while the Huskies went 1-1 and the Wildcats went 0-1 on the power play.
At 14:38 of the third, Northeastern went on a two-man advantage for 1:34. Hawkins launched a shot that ricocheted off the left post and 24 seconds later the Wildcats were able to regain full strength.
Northeastern took a two-goal lead at 15:32 as Ryan Shea sent a shot from the blue line that entered the goal above Robinson. The goal was assisted by Filipe.
At 18:31, Northeastern sealed the win with an empty net goal scored by Pecararo, resulting in his third goal of the game and a final score of 6-3.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
UNH outshot Northeastern by a 36-34 margin.
Robinson made 28 saves, while Primeau recorded 33.
The Wildcats went 0-2 on the power play and the Huskies went 2-4.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
van Riemsdyk's two goals and one assist resulted in a career-best three points.
BOYD AND VELA ARE PRESENTED WITH TEAM AWARDS
Senior Richard Boyd (Delray Beach, Fla.) won the Whoop Snively Citizenship Award which recognizes him for his citizenship and service to the university and community, with his selfless work with local youth hockey and the Friends of Jaclyn, as well as Crohn's Disease awareness. The award was presented to Boyd by Sports Performance Coach Tim Churchard.
Senior Richard Boyd with Tim Churchard (Photo by Jessica Speechley).
Vela was presented with The Nate Hardy Ironman Award which is given to the Wildcat Player who excels in the weight room through a 15-event competition during fall dry-land playing. The award is named in honor of Nate Hardy, a Navy seal who was killed in action in Iraq in early February 2008. Former UNH professor and hockey historian Steve Hardy and his wife, Donna, were there to present the award.
Senior captain Marcus Vela with Steve Hardy (Photo by Jessica Speechley).
NORTHEAST REGIONAL TICKETS ON SALE
UNH is hosting the 2019 NCAA Men's Hockey Northeast Regional at the SNHU Arena in Manchester, N.H., on Friday and Saturday, March 29-30. Go here for tickets.
STAY CONNECTED
There are numerous ways to stay connected with the UNH men's hockey team. Follow the Wildcats on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
