AMHERST, Mass. - Freshman forward Kristaps Skrastins (Grobina, Latvia) broke a 1-1 tie in the third period to score his first collegiate game winner as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team defeated No. 17 UMass, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon at the Mullins Center in Hockey East action.
Freshman forward Cy LeClerc (Brentwood, N.H.) and sophomore defenseman Alex Gagne (Bedford, N.H.) also scored for the Wildcats, while senior goaltender David Fessenden (Parker, Colo.) earned his third consecutive win in net.
The Wildcats, who have won three straight and four of their last six games, improve to 7-16-1 (2-11-1 Hockey East), while the Minutemen fall to 9-10-3 (3-8-1 Hockey East).
UP NEXT: Wildcats will return to action on Friday and Saturday,
- After a road game versus UMass Lowell (Jan. 20), the Wildcats will return to the Whitt versus the River Hawks on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. for Community Night presented by Kennebunk Savings Bank which will feature Stick It To Stigma and Family Hockey Day.
- A jersey auction of special Stick It To Stigma jerseys will take place during the game for mental health awareness. It is a Stick It To Stigma doubleheader as the UNH women's hockey team will also be auctioning off jerseys at its game versus Boston University at 2 p.m.
- Jan. 21 is also Family Hockey Day with a spaghetti dinner and activities that will include (but are not limited to) face painting, button making, personalized pennants, cornhole, and so much more. Tickets for Family Hockey Day are $42 for dinner, activities and game ticket, and $38 for ages 12 and under and 65+.
- Go to UNHWildcats.com/Tickets or call the ticket office at (603) 862-4000 to catch the most exciting family entertainment in New Hampshire.
Score: New Hampshire 3, #17 UMass 1
Records: UNH (7-16-1, 2-11-1 Hockey East), UMass (9-10-3, 3-8-1 Hockey East)
Location: Amherst, Mass. (Mullins Center)
Date: Sunday, January 15, 2023
Time: 3 p.m.
Attendance: 4,246
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead at 1:12 of the second period when LeClerc sent a backhander to the goal that was deflected by a UMass defender to the back of the net. Freshman defenseman Damien Carfagna (Wood-Ridge, N.J.) and sophomore forward Will Margel (Potomac, Md.) each posted an assist on the goal.
- The Minutemen tied the contest at 1-1 when Michael Cameron fired a one-timer from the slot stick side at 7:34 of the second period.
- Skrastins gave UNH a 2-1 advantage at 2:15 of the third period when he scored his second goal of the season. Freshman forward Stiven Sardarian (Saint Petersburg, Russia) stole the puck at center ice and then skated to the side of the goal as he sent a pass to Skrastins who knocked the puck in glove side.
- The Minutemen went with an empty net with 3:03 remaining in the third period and Gagne took advantage as he blasted a shot from center ice to the back of the net off a faceoff win by senior forward Harrison Blaisdell (Regina, Saskatchewan) for the 3-1 final score.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Fessenden made 27 saves, while Henry Graham tallied 21 for the Minutemen.
- UMass outshot UNH, 28-24.
- The Wildcats went 0-3 on the power play, while the Minutemen went 0-1.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- The Wildcats lead the all-time series versus UMass, 93-29-12. UNH is 25-13-3 versus the Minutemen at the Mullins Center.
- LeClerc scored his team-leading 11th goal of the season. He is on a three-game point streak with three goals over this stretch.
- The assist by Sardarian was his first collegiate point.
- This is the Wildcats' second straight road win versus a nationally ranked team as UNH defeated No. 11 Providence, 2-0, on Jan. 6.
