THREE-GOAL THIRD LIFTS UNH PAST NORTHEASTERN, 6-3
Sophomore Trevor Smith nets sixth and seventh goals of season for Wildcats

DURHAM, N.H. - Linemates Trevor Smith (North Vancouver, British Columbia) and Matt Fornataro (Calgary, Alberta) both recorded three points to lead the 13th-ranked University of New Hampshire hockey team to Friday night's 6-3 Hockey East victory against Northeastern University at the Whittemore Center.

UNH improved to 3-2-0 overall and 1-1-0 in Hockey East while NU fell to 2-4-1, 0-3-1.

With the score tied 3-3 entering the third period, the Wildcats scored a pair of goals in the opening minute of the stanza to build a two-goal advantage. Brett Hemingway (Surrey, British Columbia), with the assistance of Jacob Micflikier (Winnipeg, Manitoba; 2a) and Jamie Fritsch (Odenton, Md.), scored at 27 seconds and Fornataro (1g, 2a), struck 14 seconds later. Smith (2g, 1a) and Jerry Pollastrone (Revere, Mass.; 2a) set up Fornataro's first goal of the season.

Josh Ciocco (Atco, N.J.) netted a power-play goal off a rebound at the left post to extend the lead to 6-3 at 5:19. Hemingway, with the initial shot, and Micflikier, who tipped that shot, were credited with assists.

UNH goaltender Kevin Regan (South Boston, Mass.) recorded 12 of his 23 saves in the first period. NU counterpart Adam Geragosian stopped 28 shots, including 12 in the middle stanza.

NU skated to a 2-1 lead after one period of play. The Huskies took a 1-0 lead at 4:48. Ryan Ginand's pass from behind the net found Mike Morris in the low slot. Regan denied Morris but Chad Costello, alone at the right post, deposited the puck into the open side.

UNH tied the score, 1-1, at 7:23 when Brad Flashains (Glendale, Ariz.) won the puck in the defensive zone and moved the puck along the right dashers to Fornataro, who in turn found Smith at the blue line. Smith fired a shot from the top of the right circle that sailed into the upper-right corner.

The Huskies regained the lead, 2-1, when Kyle Kraemer's shot from the left circle went into the far upper-corner of the net at 13:35. Jimmy Russo, with the centering pass from the left corner, and Joe Vitale were credited with assists.

The ‘Cats outscored the Huskies 2-1 in the middle stanza to level the score, 3-3, through 40 minutes. Smith netted his second goal of the night at 4:50 when his screened shot from the right half-boards beat Geragosian. Fornataro, with the wraparound pass behind the net around the right corner, and Pollastrone set up the goal.

UNH took its first lead of the game, 3-2, at 12:53. Chris Murray (Dover, Mass.), who kept the puck in the zone, fired a shot from the high slot that hit the upper-right corner of the net. Greg Collins (Fairport, N.Y.) initiated the sequence by pushing the puck to Ciocco in the right circle, and his pass found its way to Murray.

NU pulled even, 3-3, at 18:19 when Morris' centering pass from the right circle was one-timed from the low slot by Costello. Ginand was also credited with an assist.

New Hampshire and NU conclude the home-and-home weekend series Saturday night at Matthews Arena. The Wildcats' next home game is Nov. 10 (7 p.m.) vs. Boston University.