CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Harvard University scored seven goals in the final two periods to erase a 4-0 deficit and capture a 7-6 win over the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team on Tuesday night in non-conference action at Bright Hockey Center.
UNH falls to 5-6-2, while Harvard is now 3-3-1. The Crimson has now won back-to-back games against the Wildcats.
Grayson Downing (Abbottsford, British Columbia; two goals/two assists), John Henrion (Holden, Mass.; four assists), Trevor van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.; one goal/one assist), Greg Burke (Lee, N.H.; two assists) and Kevin Goumas (Long Beach, N.Y.; two goals) all registered multiple-point efforts on the night for New Hampshire.
With UNH holding a 5-4 lead heading into the third period, Harvard tied the game at 6:51 of the third as Colin Blackwell scored with assists from David Valek and Ryan Grimshaw. The Crimson took its first lead of the game at 12:02 when Colin Blackwell redirected a shot from the point for his second of the night with assists from Dan Ford and Danny Fick. David Valek scored the eventual game-winner on an empty-net goal that trickled down the length of the ice with an assist from Luke Greiner at 18:35. Trailing 7-5, UNH scored an extra-attacker goal at 19:57 as Stevie Moses (Leominster, Mass.) tapped in a rebound of a Henrion wrister. Downing fought for the loose puck in the corner and slid the puck to Henrion for the one-timer. UNH held a 9-8 shot edge in the period for a 34-30.
The Wildcats netted four first period goals to jump out of the gate to a 4-0 lead at the first intermission. New Hampshire got on the board just 1:23 into the first period as Downing scored from the right slot on the rebound of a Henrion wrister, Burke also assisted on the goal. The 'Cats second goal came on the power play as Goumas tapped in a centering pass from Nick Sorkin (Rockville, Md.) and Connor Hardowa (Edmonton, Alberta) also had a helper on the tally at 5:20. Downing scored his second of the night as he redirected in a Burke shot from the left shot at 8:18. Henrion picked up his second assist of the night on the goal. The Wildcats closed out first period scoring when Trevor van Riemsdyk fired a slapshot from the left point that went top shelf into the Crimson net at 11:56. Downing and Henrion assisted on the goal. UNH held a 13-9 shot advantage in the period and went 1-2 on the power play in the period.
The Crimson cut into the New Hampshire lead outscoring the 'Cats 4-1 in the second period to make it 5-4 UNH heading into the second intermission. Harvard scored goals at 6:50 and 8:21. The first goal came as Alex Killorn scored a power play goal from Marshall Everson and Danny Biega, while Eric Kroshus netted the second goal with assists from Patrick McNally and Tommy O'Regan. New Hampshire added to its lead with a shorthanded goal by Goumas at 14:14 with a helper from van Riemsdyk. Harvard scored the final two goals of the frame 18:00 and 19:55, respectively. The first of those goals came from Alex Fallstrom and Killorn, while Killorn scored Harvard's fourth goal with assists from Fallstrom and McNally in the whining seconds of the period. The Crimson held a slim 13-12 shot edge in the period.
New Hampshire was 1-3 on the power play, while Harvard went 1-4 in its extra-skater opportunities.
Matt Di Girolamo (Ambler, Pa.) stopped 23 shots including nine in the first two periods and moves to 5-5-1. Steve Michalek stopped 24 shots in 54:40 of relief action to earn the win and move to 1-1-1, while Raphael Girard allowed two goals in 5:20 of action.
UNH returns home Saturday, Nov. 26 for a non-conference game against Alabama-Huntsville (7 p.m.). Tickets for the UAH game and information on all things UNH hockey log on to UNHWildcats.com.