New Hampshire Shut Out By St. Francis Xavier in Exhibition, 2-0

New Hampshire senior forward Matt Willows
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
2nd 1:26  SFX1-0 EV GW Michael KirkpatrickNathan Chiarlitti, Robert Slaney
3rd 1:39  SFX2-0 EV Steven KuhnBlake Gal
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
St. Francis Xavier  0112
New Hampshire  0000
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
St. Francis Xavier  74819
New Hampshire  1210830
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
St. Francis Xavier  0/3 6/12 0
New Hampshire  0/4 4/11 0
St. Francis Xavier Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Drew Owsley (W)59:590 1210830
Empty Net0:010     
New Hampshire Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Adam Clark (L)40:001 73010
Jamie Regan15:161 0077
Empty Net4:440     

DURHAM, N.H. - The University of New Hampshire men's hockey team fell by a score of 2-0 to Saint Francis Xavier University Saturday afternoon at the Whittemore Center. The exhibition contest was the first of the season for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats started the game off with five consecutive shots; two on goal with two blocked and one wide. Senior captain Matt Willows (Congers, N.Y.) rifled a shot in the opening minutes, followed by senior Grayson Downing (Abbottsford, British Columbia), both of which were saved by X-Men goaltender Drew Owsley. Freshman netminder Adam Clark (Sherwood Park, Alberta) made his first save of the game on a shot by Zackary MacQueen.

Freshman Andrew Poturalski (Williamsville, N.Y.) created a great bid with just over 13 minutes to play in the first period when he forced a turnover in the UNH zone and skated up ice with the puck. He fired a wrist shot from just inside the right faceoff circle that went just high of the StFX net. On the other end of the ice, Clark came up with a big save with 8:44 remaining in the frame as Bronson Maschmeyer attempted to jam a shot in from the right of Clark, but the netminder extended to make the save and cover up the puck. Junior Maxim Gaudreault (Annapolis, Md.) had a great backhander shot with less than five minutes to play in the first, but Owsley denied the attempt to keep the score tied.

At the end of the first period, UNH and StFX were scoreless. The Wildcats held a 12-7 advantage through the first 20 minutes.

In the second period, Saint Francis took a 1-0 lead on a shot by Michael Kirkpatrick 1:26 into the second period. The play started with Robert Slaney sent the puck up ice to Nathan Chiarlitti in the UNH zone. Chiarlitti slid the puck to Kirkpatrick in front who then found the back of the net.

Freshman blueliner Cameron Marks (North Vancouver, British Columbia) fired his first shot on goal with just over 14 minutes remaining as Gaudreault laced a pass across ice to him near the blueline in the StFX zone. Marks' shot was turned away by Owsley. Poturalski kept the offensive prowess going in the second period as he blazed through the StFX defense at the net. His shot was thwarted by Owsley as he cut down the angle.

At the end of two periods, the X-Men held a 1-0 advantage. UNH netminder Clark finished the first two periods with 10 saves on the 11 shots he faced.

To start the third period, junior netminder Jamie Regan (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) came in for New Hampshire. Just 28 seconds into the third period, Regan made a big save on a one-time shot by Kirkpatrick from just outside of the crease. The Wildcats garnered the rebound and skated up ice with the puck as junior defenseman Brett Pesce (Tarrytown, N.Y.) sent a wrist shot on net, but Owsley made the glove save.

The X-Men got the second goal of the game with 18:21 left to play in the third period on a tip in front by Steven Kuhn. Blake Gal took the initial shot from inside the blueline as Kuhn made contact with his stick and directed it low and into the net.

New Hampshire remained poised and kept the offense coming. With an empty net for UNH and an extra skater, the sophomore Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass.) rifled a shot on goal that was saved by Owsley, but the rebound popped out. Downing was on the backdoor for the rebound, but Owsley stopped that attempt as well. As the final seconds expired, StFX held on for a 2-0 win.

On the night, UNH goaltending made 17 saves on 19 shots faced. Regan ended the night with seven saves. Owsley saved each of the 30 shots he faced, including a game-high six shots by Willows. Senior Jay Camper (Rocky River, Ohio) was second with four shots.

The Wildcats officially open the 2014-15 season with one game at defending national champion Union College on Saturday, Oct. 11. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. UNH does not return home until Saturday, Oct. 25 to play Colorado College. Tickets are available online at www.UNHWildcats.com or by calling (603) 862-4000, extension 5.