DURHAM N.H. - Sophomore forward Thomas Fortney (Webster Groves, Mo.) totaled a career-high two goals and Kevin Regan (South Boston, Mass.) posted 42 saves to lead the fifth-ranked University of New Hampshire hockey team to Friday night's 6-0 victory and a sweep of Providence College in the best-of-three Hockey East quarterfinal series at the Whittemore Center.
UNH, the top seed of the Hockey East tournament with a 18-7-2 league record, improved to 25-9-2. The Wildcats advance to next weekend's semifinals at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston and will face off against the lowest remaining seed. PC, which finished the regular season with a 9-15-3 mark in Hockey East, is now 10-23-3.
Regan, who also recorded a 42-save shutout in Thursday's opening game of the series, finished Friday's game with double-digit saves all three periods (16-15-11). He now has three shutouts this season as well as three vs. PC and six in his career.
Including Fortney, six Wildcats recorded multiple points. Chris Murray (Dover, Mass.) matched his career high of three points with a goal and two assists. Jacob Micflikier (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Mike Radja (Yorkville, Ill.) both recorded two assists while Trevor Smith (N. Vancouver, British Columbia) and Matt Fornataro (Calgary, Alberta) each tallied a goal and an assist.
PC goaltender Chris Mannix made 18 saves, including eight in the third period.
Murray, a senior blueliner, gave UNH a 1-0 lead at 7:11 of the opening period when he received the pass from Radja in the low slot and beat PC's Chris Mannix to the high blocker side with a wrist shot. Micflikier also earned an assist on Murray's ninth goal of the season, which leads Wildcat defensive scorers.
Hemingway scored in his second straight game at 15:41 of the first on a back door goal for his 13th goal in 06-07 to give the 'Cats a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission. Micflikier, with the pass across the crease to Hemingway at the left post, and Radja were credited with assists.
Fortney added a pair of goals in the second period at 2:55 and 7:44, while Smith gave UNH a 5-0 lead at 13:14 of the middle stanza to cap the Wildcats' three-goal second period. Smith was charging toward the Friar net down the side of the right circle and tipped the Jerry Pollastsrone (Revere, Mass.) centering pass from the right half board into the net. Fornataro, with the assistance of Murray and Smith, closed the scoring at 13:58.
UNH finished the game 3-for-6 on the power play while PC was 0-for-7. The Wildcats were outshot for the second straight night, with Providence holding a 42-24 advantage.