THOMPSON LIFTS UNH PAST PROVIDENCE IN OVERTIME, 5-4
Freshman Paul Thompson completes hat trick in overtime

Junior Thomas Fortney posted three assists for the Wildcats

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - University of New Hampshire's Paul Thompson scored three times including the overtime game winner to lead the Wildcats to a 5-4 victory over the Providence College men's hockey team Friday night at Schneider Arena.

Thompson, who also added two assists, redirected a pass from James vanRiemsdyk at 2:57 of the extra session to seal the win for the Wildcats (6-2-1, 4-2-1). He also scored at 11:48 of the third period to tie the game (4-4).

Trailing 3-1 to start the third period, the Friars (3-6-2, 3-3-2) cut the margin to one just nine seconds into the period. Sophomore Greg Collins fired a shot from the blue line that eluded UNH goalie Brian Foster. The Friars scored two goals in a span of 11 seconds halfway through the third period to take the lead, 4-3. PC tallied its second power-play goal of the night at 10:25 when senior Jon Rheault scored on a wrist shot from the left circle to tie the game. At 10:36, junior Pierce Norton moved the puck past a UNH defenseman before firing a high wrist shot past Foster. It marked Norton's team leading seventh goal of the season. However, the lead was short-lived as Thompson scored from in close to even the score at 11:48.

Norton opened the scoring at 14:50 of the first period as he converted on the power-play. UNH bounced back with three straight goals, including two late tallies in the first and second periods. Thompson scored his first of the night at 16:34 to even the score and vanRiemsdyk gave UNH a 2-1 first period lead at 19:40 with his fourth of the season. With two seconds left in the second period, Craig Switzer added to the Wildcats', scoring his second goal of the season.

The Friars outshot the Wildcats, 45-38, as Foster made 41 saves and PC goalie Tyler Sims recorded 38 stops.