DURHAM, N.H. - DURHAM, N.H. - Nick Sorkin (Rockville, Md.) scored the game-tying goal to lift the 13th-ranked University of New Hampshire men's ice hockey team to Friday night's 1-1 tie against fifth-ranked University of Michigan at the Whittemore Center.
UNH's record levels at 1-1-1 and Michigan remains unbeaten at 2-0-1. The Wildcats and Wolverines conclude the two-game series Saturday (7 p.m.) at the Whittemore Center.
UNH goaltender Jeff Wyer (Reading, Mass.) made 17 saves, including one in overtime. UM goalie Zach Nagelvoort, who entered the game with 18:19 remaining in the third period, played the last 23:19 of the game and was credited with the tie and 15 saves, including two in OT. Starting goalie Steve Racine stopped 19 shots before exiting the game due to injury 1:41 into the final frame The teams combined for nine penalties and 29 penalty minutes in the first period as UNH was whistled for two minors, a major and a game misconduct while Michigan committed four minor infractions.
With UNH on the power play, a Trevor van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) slapshot from the left point ricocheted off the pipe. Kevin Goumas (Long Beach, N.Y.) corralled the puck off the rebound at the right post and lifted a shot across the goalmouth.
In the 11th minute, Michigan's JT Compher snapped a shot from the high slot that sailed wide and caromed off the end boards back into the crease, where a UNH defenseman swept the puck aside. With the teams skating 4-on-4, UNH's Dalton Speelman (San Jose, Calif.) was called for a contact to the head major and game misconduct. The Wolverines capitalized on the extended power play to generate a flurry of shots, including three consecutive attempts from the slot off the stick of Mac Bennett - two of which were wide - and another Phil Di Giuseppe shot from the right circle that was stopped by Wyer.
Michigan took a 1-0 lead on that power play with a tally at 15:32. Andrew Copp initiated the scoring sequence from the right circle with a pass to the high slot, where Compher slapped a low, hard pass toward the left post and Tyler Motte redirected the puck into the open left side.
UNH's Grayson Downing (Abbottsford, British Columbia) had two quality scoring chances in the last 3:30 of the first period. On a breakaway down the middle, he shifted to the forehand in the low slot but was stoned by Racine at the left post. With two minutes on the clock, Downing lifted a close-range shot past Racing that caromed off the crossbar.
The Wildcats opened the second period with 1:46 remaining on a power play, and they scored three seconds after it expired to tie the score, 1-1, at 1:49. The initial shot from the high slot by Justin Agosta (East Meadow, N.Y.) was saved by Racine, but Sorkin corralled the puck at the left doorstep and jammed the puck into the net. Goumas was also credited with an assist.
UNH went on its seventh power play of the game at 4:27 of the third period but Nagelvoort was stout in net to preserve the tie. The Wildcats were awarded a penalty shot when Derek DeLois was whistled for hooking at 13:59. Dan Correale (Prince George, British Columbia) skated down the slot and attempted to stuff the puck low inside the right post, but Nagelvoort slid in position to make the save.
New Hampshire went on its eighth power play at 15:41, but a staunch Wolverine penalty kill kept the 'Cats on the perimeter.
The teams ended regulation with UNH holding a 33-17 shot advantage. The Wildcats were 0-8 on the power play, while Michigan when 1-4 on the man advantage.