NEW HAMPSHIRE SKATES PAST BOSTON UNIVERSITY, 5-2
Senior forward Paul Thompson scores two goals and adds assist for Wildcats

Senior forward Paul Thompson had two goals and an assist for the Wildcats

DURHAM, N.H. - Phil DeSimone (East Amherst, N.Y.) and Paul Thompson (Derry, N.H.) recorded three points apiece to lead the seventh-ranked University of New Hampshire men's hockey team to Friday night's 5-2 Hockey East victory against second-ranked Boston University at the Whittemore Center.

UNH extended its unbeaten streak to nine games (6-0-3) to improve to 6-1-3 overall and 4-0-2 in Hockey East; the Wildcats also extended its unbeaten streak against league foes at the Whittemore Center to 23 games (16-0-7). BU lost for the first time this season to fall to 6-1-4, 4-1-4.

Thompson scored two goals, including the game-winning goal, and had an assist while DeSimone tallied a goal and two assists. Matt DiGirolamo (Ambler, Pa.) made 20 saves and BU counterpart Kieran Millan stopped 44 shots.

The Terriers took an early 1-0 lead with a goal at 2:26 of the first period. Charlie Coyle won possession in the left corner and moved the puck to the lower-left circle, where Sahir Gill touched the puck back to David Warsofsky and his shot sailed into the upper-right corner.

DeSimone, from behind the net, centered a pass to the low slot and Mike Sislo (Superior, Wis.) swept the puck out of the crease to Paul Thompson (Derry, N.H.), whose shot found the upper-right corner of the net to tie the score, 1-1, at 6:13.

John Henrion (Holden, Mass.) gave the 'Cats a lead they would not relinquish at 8:03 when he intercepted a pass behind the net and curled around the right post. Instead of attempting a backhanded wraparound shot, Henrion turned to his forehand and slid a shot under Millan.

New Hampshire, which recorded 40-plus shots for the fifth time in 10 games this season, extended its lead to 4-1 with goals 24 seconds apart - at 5:05 and 5:29 - in the second period. From the high slot, Damon Kipp (Salmon Arm, British Columbia) blasted a shot over the cage. The puck ricocheted off the glass out towards the left post and Thompson lifted the puck under the crossbar to score the Wildcats' third goal of the night. DeSimone was also credited with an assist on the play.

BU's Joe Pereira broke behind the UNH defense in the slot but was unable to deke DiGirolamo, who stood his ground at the top of the crease to make the save at 5:20. The 'Cats quickly moved the puck to mid-ice and Stevie Moses (Leominster, Mass.) snapped a centering pass from the right dashers to Mike Borisenok (Watervliet, N.Y.) at the blue line. Borisenok flicked the puck forward to Nick Sorkin (Rockville, Md.) and his low shot from the left circle went inside the far post. It marked the first career point for Sorkin, as well as the first point by a UNH freshman this season.

Warsofsky's second goal of the night pulled BU within 4-2 at 11:28 of the second stanza. With the Terriers on a 5-on-3 power play, Alex Chiasson snapped a pass from the low-left side to Max Nicastro on the top-left side. Nicastro swung the puck across the slot and Warsofsky rifled a shot into the upper-right corner of the net.

UNH responded with a power-play strike at 18:45 to reestablish a three-goal lead, 5-2. Sislo initiated the sequence with a pass from the left corner to Blake Kessel (Verona, Wis.) at the near point. Kessel sent the puck back down low to Thompson. He threw the puck to the top of the crease and DeSimone redirected a shot past Millan into the net.

New Hampshire and BU conclude the home-and-home series Nov. 20 (7 p.m.) at the Terriers' Agganis Arena. The Wildcats' next home game is Tuesday, Nov. 23 (7 p.m.) against Brown University. Tickets to the Brown game and all UNH home games are available online at www.UNHWildcats.com.