NEW HAMPSHIRE SKATES TO 2-2 TIE WITH US UNDER-18 TEAM

Sophomore forward Casey Thrush scored a goal for the Wildcats

DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire men's hockey team played to a 2-2 draw against the U.S. National Under-18 team Sunday evening at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H. Casey Thrush (Easton, Md.) and Kevin Goumas (Long Beach, N.Y.) each tallied a goal in the game.

The Wildcats got the scoring started in the first period when Thrush tallied the first goal of the game. Nick Sorkin (Rockville, Md.) ripped a shot from inside the blueline that was saved by Team USA goalie Thatcher Demko. Thrush found the rebound of the shot and put it away for the goal. Dan Correale (Prince George, British Columbia) also tallied an assist on the play as he played it to Sorkin.

New Hampshire netminder Jeff Wyer (Reading, Mass.) was perfect in net for the Wildcats as he saved all eight shots he faced. At the end of the first stanza, UNH was ahead, 1-0.

The second period saw level offense from the two teams, each tallying seven shots on goal. Goumas took advantage of his shot as he scored goal number two for the Wildcats in a 4-on-4 situation. Grayson Downing(Abbottsford, British Columbia) got the puck outside of the left faceoff circle and played a pass to the opposite side of the goal to Goumas. Goumas skated back about a foot with the puck and lifted a shot over the glove of Demko. Wyer continued his hot streak in net after making saves on each shot he faced in the period. With two periods in the books, the Wildcats held a 2-0 lead.

Midway through the third period, Team USA cracked onto the scoreboard at 10:04 when Anthony Louis jammed a shot past Wyer. The play was reviewed by officials and the goal stood, cutting the UNH lead to 2-1. Kevin Lebanc and Steven Santini tallied assists on the play. Just 36 seconds Tyler Motte leveled the score at 2-2 after putting the puck in the net from the right side of the ice just from just outside the crease. J.T. Compher started the play when he played the puck to John Hayden who then found Motte to setup the goal.

Each team kept the offensive pressure on as New Hampshire tallied 13 shots on goal in the period while the National Team notched 12. After three periods of play, the score was tied, 2-2, and headed to overtime.

In the extra five-minute frame, both teams tallied three shots on goal, however neither found the back of the net. After 65 minutes of play, the score was finalized, 2-2.

Wyer made a total of 28 saves through each period of play on the on the 30 shots he faced in the game while Demko made 35 saves on 37 shots. New Hampshire was 0-for-4 on the power play while Team USA was 0-for-5 with the advantage.

The 'Cats will take a break until Dec. 30 when they travel to Dartmouth in a non-conference game against the Big Green. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.