NEW HAMPSHIRE UPENDS VERMONT, 5-1

Matt Fornataro scored two goals for the Wildcats

URLINGTON, Vt. - All four New Hampshire lines registered a goal and senior goalie Kevin Regan made 19 saves to lift the seventh-ranked Wildcats to a 5-1 victory against Vermont in front of a sellout crowd of 4,003 at Gutterson Fieldhouse in Hockey East action on Friday night. The Catamounts had their four-game unbeaten streak snapped as they dropped to 6-10-7 (5-6-5 HEA). The Wildcats moved to 16-7-1 (12-4-1 HEA) with the win.

Senior Matt Fornataro scored twice for UNH, which has won seven straight league games. Sophomore Bobby Butler, freshman Mike Sislo and freshman Greg Manz added goals for the nation's fourth ranked offense.

It was the ninth time this season that UNH has scored at least five goals as the Wildcats improved to 13-1-2 in the last 16 meetings against the Catamounts.

Freshman Kyle Medvec (Burnsville, Minn.) recorded the first goal of his career for UVM in the third period.

"We were not very good from the net out in the third period," Vermont head coach Sneddon said. "It was disappointing. It's unfortunate because we had been playing well for two periods."

Vermont out shot New Hampshire 12-11 through 40 minutes but trailed 2-0. The Catamounts held the Wildcats to just three shots in a scoreless first period.

Butler put UNH in front 1-0 5:53 into the second period with his eighth goal of the season. Freshman James vanRiemsdyk, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NHL Draft by Philadelphia, setup the goal during a 2-on-1.

The score came after sophomore Brayden Irwin (Toronto, Onatrio) hit the post from the left circle just two minutes earlier for the Catamounts.

The Wildcats took a 2-0 advantage on the first of two goals by Fornataro with just 1:19 remaining in the second. With UNH on the power play, the senior captain snapped a wrist shot past Mike Spillane (Bow, N.H.) from the high slot.

Sislo made it 3-0 UNH with the first goal of his career at 5:59 of the third period. He beat Spillane on the short side with a wrister from the left circle.

Then Manz and Fornataro each added goals to make it 5-0.

"The wheels fell of in the third and it snowballed on us," Sneddon said. "With a great team like that across the way they are going to feed off that."

Medvec sent a blast from the left point past Regan at 15:20 of the final period to get UVM on the board. Senior co-captain Mark Lutz (Stevens Point, Wis.) and junior assistant captain Corey Carlson (Two Harbors, Minn.) each assisted.

Regan, the reigning Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week, moved to 14-5-0 on the season with the win. Spillane stopped 16 shots for the Catamounts.

Vermont returns to action on Sunday at 4pm at Gutterson Fieldhouse against No. 16 UMass-Lowell.

"We've got work to do to prepare for a very good UMass-Lowell team," Sneddon said of the River Hawks, who defeated Maine 3-2 on Friday. "They are playing great hockey this year. Again we find ourselves against another nationally ranked team. We've got to be ready to be better than tonight."

Sunday’s game will be televised on ESPNU. Sunday is also Rally Catamount’s birthday party at Gutterson, sponsored by Coldwell Banker Hickok and Boardman.

NOTES: Tonight’s game was televised on CSTV and marked the eighth television game of the year for UVM ... The Catamounts are 4-4-5 at home this season ... Viktor Stalberg had a team-high four shots ... UNH out shot UVM 21-20 ... Vermont went 0-for-3 on the power play and New Hampshire went 1-for-3 ... Tickets still remain for Sunday’s game and are available online at www.uvmathletics.com ... Tickets will also be available at the Gutterson Fieldhouse Box Office beginning at 2pm on Sunday.