DURHAM, N.H. - Aidan McDonough tallied three goals for the Huskies as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team fell to No. 18 Northeastern, 6-2, at the Whittemore Center on Friday night. Senior forward Patrick Grasso (Ankeny, Iowa) and senior defenseman Benton Maass (Elk River, Minn.) each recorded a goal for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats are now 5-11-2 (5-11-2 Hockey East), while Northeastern improves to 7-5-2 (7-5-2 Hockey East).
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will conclude the home-and-home series with No. 18 Northeastern on Saturday, Feb. 13 at Matthews Arena in Boston at 6:00 p.m. on NESN+.
HEALTH CARE WORKERS APPRECIATION NIGHT:
For Valentine's Day weekend, to show its love and appreciation for Health Care Workers, UNH Athletics has partnered with Wentworth Douglass Health Partners to give away 200 'Cats Cutouts to be displayed and honored at the Whittemore Center for this weekend's men's and women's hockey games and all of the remaining home hockey games for the 2020-21 season.
The Wildcats got on the board first at 11:13 when they broke out on a 2-on-1 chance and junior forward Angus Crookshank (North Vancouver, British Columbia) passed the puck across the crease to Grasso who snuck it around the goalie and the right post for the goal from just behind the net.
Patrick Grasso knocking the puck to back of the net for his 48th career goal (Photo by China Wong)
Northeastern tied the game with a power play goal at 15:42 on an odd-man rush and a pass from Grant Jozefek across the zone that led to a one-timer goal from McDonough just past the glove of senior goalie Mike Robinson (Bedford, N.H.).
Northeastern scored just 29 seconds later on a one-timer off a rebound from Riley Hughes that snuck in past the left post just by a fully extended Robinson. The assist was to Tyler Spott.
UNH was outshot 8-7 in the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
UNH got two opportunities on the power play before the midway point in the period and had chances in the zone but were unable to convert.
UNH tied it up during the 4-on-4 at 13:11 on a goal from Maass who received a pass from Tyler Ward (Kamloops, British Columbia) across the zone and fired a wrist shot right past the glove of Connor Murphy.
Benton Maass now has 10 career goals (Photo by China Wong)
Northeastern regained the lead at 15:12 on a goal from Michael Kesselring who split the Wildcat defenders to get in front of Robinson and go front hand to backhand across the crease for the finish.
Northeastern added to its lead on the power play with a goal from McDonough at 17:10. Northeastern circled the puck before Jordan Harris slid a pass from the point to the right circle where McDonough blasted a one-timer past the glove of Robinson.
UNH outshot Northeastern 12-2 in the period.
THIRD PERIOD
Northeastern extended its lead to 5-2 on the power play at 10:15 on the third goal by McDonough who received a pass from Zach Solow at the point and finished a one-timer from the right circle that snuck just inside the right post.
Northeastern tallied the last goal of the game at 14:49 on the power play as Michael Kesselring found a rebound and snuck it past the glove on the right side.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Shots on goal were even 23-23 throughout the game.
Robinson made six saves and allowed four goals, while junior Ty Taylor (Richmond, British Columbia) posted 11 saves and allowed two goals. Murphy recorded 21 saves to earn the win for the Huskies.
Northeastern was 4-6 on the power play, while UNH was 0-4.
UNH won the faceoff battle 27-24.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
Grasso tallied his 95th career point (48 goals, 47 assists).
Ward and junior forward Filip Engarås (Stockholm, Sweden) each extended their point streaks to three games.
Maass recorded his second goal of the season and the 10th of his career.
Filip Engarås is on a three-game point streak (Photo by China Wong) VIRTUAL MEMBERSHIPS:
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