NEW HAMPSHIRE TAKES 6-3 LOSS AT MIAMI
Phil DeSimone had three-point game for Wildcats

Phil DeSimone had a goal and two assists for the Wildcats

OXFORD, OHIO - Phil DeSimone (East Amherst, N.Y.) registered a goal and two assists, but the University of New Hampshire eighth-ranked men's ice hockey team fell, 6-3, to No. 3 Miami University in the season opener Friday night at Goggin Ice Center. New Hampshire trailed 4-3 with under two minutes to play but a power play and empty-net goal sealed the win for Miami.

UNH falls to 0-1, while the RedHawks improve to 1-0.

The teams were scoreless in the first period with Miami holding a slim 11-9 advantage in shots. The Wildcats were 0-3 on the power play in the period, while Miami was 0-1 in its extra-skater opportunity in the frame.

New Hampshire drew first blood as DeSimone scored 53 seconds into the second period. DeSimone entered the zone unmark as Dalton Speelman (San Jose, Calif.) won a puck away from a pair of RedHawks and centered it to a charging DeSimone. DeSimone made quick move to slide the puck past Cody Reichard to make it 1-0. The RedHawks responded with a pair of quick goals in the first 10 minutes of the period. Justin Vaive scored from the center high zone at 4:16. The goal, which was assisted by Pat Cannone, came on a screen shot that went five-hole on Matt DiGirolamo (Ambler, Pa.). The second goal came on a one-timer from the top of the left circle at 6:56 just after a UNH penalty had expired. Steve Mason scored with an assist from Vaive and Vogelhuber. UNH tied it with a power play goal at 16:30. DeSimone won the faceoff back to Blake Kessel (Verona, Wis.), who made a pass to Mike Sislo (Superior, Wis.) along the right boards. Sislo skated in and made an odd-angle shot that went under Reichard's glove-side shoulder to tie it at 2-2. Miami closed out scoring in a five-goal second period as Carter Camper scored his first of two on the night from Alden Hirschfield and Matt Tomasson at 17:47 of the period. Miami held an 18-9 shot edge in the frame.

Camper potted his second goal of the game at 3:11 of the third, which gave Miami the game's first two-goal lead at 4-2. Patrick Tiesling and Vincent LoVerde assisted on the goal. The lead did not last long as the Wildcats cut it to 4-3 as defenseman Connor Hardowa (Edmonton, Alberta) scored his first career goal from the right point at 5:36 of the third. DeSimone kept the puck alive and was credited with the assist. The RedHawks secured the win with a power play goal and an empty-net goal in the final 90 seconds. Alden Hirschfield scored a power play goal at 18:43 with an assist from Carter Camper and Hirschfield added an empty-netter at 19:25 with assists from Tiesling and LoVerde.

UNH was 1-5 on the power play, including a 6.5 second opportunity at the end of the game. The RedHawks were 1-4 on the power play.

Miami held a 41-26 shot edge skewed by an 18-9 margin in the third period.

DiGirolamo, who falls to 0-1, stopped a career-high 35 shots, while MU's Reichard (1-0) stopped 23 shots.

New Hampshire and Miami conclude the two-game series Saturday, Oct. 9 (7 p.m.). UNH opens its home slate on Saturday, Oct. 16 (7 p.m.) against Michigan. Tickets to the Michigan game and all UNH home games are available online at UNHWildcats.com.