Wildcats Win 4-3 OT Thriller at #17 Clarkson, in Season Opener

Friday, October 7

Potsdam, N.Y.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

1-0-0

Clarkson

0-1-0

OT 1

New Hampshire

Clarkson

David Fessenden made 28 saves to earn the win (Photo by Jim Meagher)

Photo by: Jim Meagher

Wildcats Win 4-3 OT Thriller at #17 Clarkson, in Season Opener

10/7/2022 10:50:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Liam Devlin scores game winner.

POTSDAM, N.Y. – Sophomore forward Liam Devlin (Needham, Mass.) scored the overtime game winner as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team defeated No. 17 Clarkson, 4-3, on Friday night in non-conference action at Cheel Arena in the season opener for both teams.

The Wildcats start the season 1-0-0, while the Golden Knights begin at 0-1-0.

With the Wildcats trailing 3-1 in the third period, UNH scored three straight goals to earn the win. The goal by Devlin was on the power play.

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats will continue their season-opening road trip when they play St. Lawrence on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+. The home opener is on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. versus Boston College on ESPN+. Go to UNHWildcats.com/Tickets or call the ticket office at (603) 862-4000 to catch the most exciting family entertainment in New Hampshire.

Score: New Hampshire 4, #17 Clarkson 3 (OT)
Records: UNH (1-0-0), Clarkson (0-1-0)
Location: Potsdam, N.Y. (Cheel Arena)
Date: Friday, October 7, 2022
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Attendance: 2,267

BOXSCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Golden Knights took an early 1-0 lead at 5:09 of the first period while on a five-on-three power play as Alex Campbell tipped a shot by Noah Beck to the glove side of the net.
At 16:14 of the second period, Clarkson increased its lead to 2-0 when Beck blasted a slap shot from the point to the stick side of the goal.
The Wildcats cut the Clarkson lead to 2-1 at 1:46 of the third period when freshman forward Cy LeClerc (Brentwood, N.H.) scored his first collegiate goal when he knocked in a rebound off a shot by senior forward Ryan Black (Pomfret, Conn.).

UNH GOAL!! Cy LeClerc scores his first collegiate goal! The Wildcats cut the Clarkson lead to 2-1 with 1:46 left in the third period. Game Day Central ➡️ https://t.co/h3WHOXQrJN#BeTheRoar pic.twitter.com/32AsfdlT0W
— UNH Men's Hockey (@UNHMHOCKEY) October 8, 2022

After Beck scored his second goal of the contest to give the Golden Knights a 3-1 lead at 4:30 of the third period, junior forward Nick Cafarelli (Middleton, Mass.) then sent a one-timer to the upper stick side of the net for the power play goal to make it a 3-2 contest. Black and LeClerc each posted an assist on the goal.

UNH GOAL!! Nick Cafarelli finds the back of the net on the power play! The Wildcats trail Clarkson 3-2 with 14:03 remaining in the third period. Game Day Central ➡️ https://t.co/h3WHOXQrJN#BeTheRoar pic.twitter.com/fhCWHxSG09
— UNH Men's Hockey (@UNHMHOCKEY) October 8, 2022

Senior captain forward Chase Stevenson (West Kelowna, British Columbia) tied the game at 3-3 at 7:13 when he fired a shot from the right faceoff circle stick side for the goal. Junior defenseman Nikolai Jenson (Cold Spring, Minn.) stole the puck in the Clarkson zone and set up Stevenson for the score.

UNH GOAL!! Chase Stevenson ties the game at 3-3 with 12:47 left in the third period! Game Day Central ➡️ https://t.co/h3WHOXQrJN#BeTheRoar pic.twitter.com/4Q1KCA1Etg
— UNH Men's Hockey (@UNHMHOCKEY) October 8, 2022

With just 56.5 seconds left in overtime, Devlin scored a power play goal to give the Wildcats the season-opening win. He sent a wrist shot from the top of the slot to the back of the net. Sophomore defenseman Colton Huard (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) and sophomore forward Robert Cronin (Plymouth, Mass.) each tallied an assist on the goal.

UNH WINS!!!! Liam Devlin scores the overtime game winner to defeat No. 17 Clarkson 4-3 in the season opener! The Wildcats return to action on Saturday at St. Lawrence at 7 p.m.#BeTheRoar pic.twitter.com/KS9kDLT37j
— UNH Men's Hockey (@UNHMHOCKEY) October 8, 2022

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Senior goalie David Fessenden (Parker, Colo.) posted 28 saves to earn the win, while Ethan Haider made 33 saves for the Golden Knights.
UNH outshot Clarkson by a 37-31 margin.
The Wildcats went 2-3 on the power play and the Golden Knights went 1-3.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

LeClerc tallied a multiple point game in his collegiate debut with one goal and one assist for two points. The last time a freshman had a multiple point game in his debut was Cam Gendron (Hampstead, N.H.) when he tallied one goal and one assist for two points versus Maine on Dec. 12, 2020.
Black made his UNH debut with two assists for two points.
Devlin now has three career game-winning goals.
UNH is now 26-22-2 all time versus Clarkson.

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