NEW HAMPSHIRE UPENDS MERRIMACK, 4-1
Jacob Micflikier and Mike Radja each post goal and assist for UNH

NORTH ANDOVER, MA – Mike Radja and Jacob Micflikier had a goal and an assist each to lead No. 3 New Hampshire to a 4-1 win over Merrimack College in Hockey East action Saturday night at Lawler Arena.

Brett Hemingway and Brad Flaishans also scored for the Wildcats, who swept the season-series from the Warriors (3-21-4, 3-16-2 Hockey East) and improved to 22-5-1 (17-3-1 Hockey East). Senior Justin Mills (Edgerton, Alta.) scored his first goal of the season for Merrimack in the third period.

The Wildcats got on the board just 3:46 into the contest when Radja intercepted a clearing attempt by Merrimack and wristed a shot on the breakaway over senior Jim Healey’s (Holyrood, N.F.) glove. The goal was his 17th of the season.

UNH pushed the lead to 2-0 with its first power play goal of the night at 9:51. Micflikier held the puck at the right point and sent a pass down low to Radja, who slid the puck through the slot that was one-timed home by Hemingway for his 11th tally of the season.

Just over four minutes later, the Wildcats capitalized on another Merrimack penalty to take a 3-0 lead when Flaishans puck from the point went through a screen and past Healey at 13:52. Trevor Smith and Craig Switzer picked up the assists on Flaishans third goal of the season.

After a scoreless second period, Merrimack had two good scoring chances in the third but were unable to put a crooked number on the scoreboard. Senior Matt Byrnes (Denver, CO) led a three-on-one rush with junior Carmen Posteraro (Pittsburgh, PA) and sophomore Brock Wilson (St. Louis, MO), but Wilson’s shot was knocked down by New Hampshire goalie Kevin Regan. Minutes later, freshman Matt Jones (Kentwood, MI) made a nice move around a UNH defender and broke in alone on Regan, but his backhander was kicked out by Regan.

UNH tacked on its fourth goal of the evening and third on the power play when Micflikier poked a rebound past sophomore goalie Patrick Watson (Waltham, MA), who entered the game at the start of the third period. Josh Ciocco and Jamie Fritsch picked up assists on Micflikier’s seventh of the season at 16:51.

Mills capped the scoring with his ninth career goal at 17:55 of the third. The Warriors won a defensive zone draw and Mills picked up the puck, wrapped behind the net and snuck the puck inside the left post.

Regan made 28 saves to move to 20-4-1 on the season. Healey suffered the loss for Merrimack, making 11 saves while Watson finished the night with 24 saves in his first action January 12 against Boston College.

The Wildcats were 3-for-9 on the power play while Merrimack was scoreless in five chances with the extra skater.

The Warriors return to action Friday night when they travel to Tsongas Arena to take on UMass Lowell at 7 p.m.