New Hampshire Scores Four Straight Goals To Top Northeastern, 5-3
Freshman forward Liam Blackburn records three assists for Wildcats

Freshman forward Liam Blackburn had three assists for the Wildcats
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
1st 4:18  NOE1-0 EV Zach Aston-Reese (20)John Stevens/12, Garrett Cecere/1
1st 7:49  NOE2-0 EV John Stevens (3)Eric Williams/7, Zach Aston-Reese/16
1st 7:59  UNH1-2 EV Brendan van Riemsdyk (5)Liam Blackburn/6, Dylan Maller/7
2nd 6:02  NOE3-1 PP Zach Aston-Reese (21)John Stevens/13
2nd 9:32  UNH2-3 EV Jason Salvaggio (14)Michael McNicholas/14
3rd 13:23  UNH3-3 EV Patrick Grasso (13)Liam Blackburn/7
3rd 17:56  UNH4-3 EV GW Marcus Vela (2)Matias Cleland/24, Shane Eiserman/7
3rd 19:04  UNH5-3 EV EN Patrick Grasso (14)Liam Blackburn/8
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Northeastern  2103
New Hampshire  1135
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
Northeastern  8121232
New Hampshire  7121130
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Northeastern (7-10-4)  1/2 2/4 0
New Hampshire (11-8-2)  0/1 3/6 0
Northeastern Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Ryan Ruck (L, 7-9-3)58:424 611825
Empty Net1:181     
New Hampshire Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Daniel Tirone (W, 11-6-2)60:003 6111229

DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire men's hockey team rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the third period to defeat Northeastern University 5-3 at the Whittemore Center Thursday night.

The Wildcats, who improved to 11-8-2 overall and 6-2-1 in Hockey East play, were led by freshman forward Liam Blackburn (Prince George, British Columbia), who had three points on three assists while classmate Patrick Grasso (Ankeny, Iowa) had two goals. Sophomore Marcus Vela (Burnaby, British Columbia) scored the game-winning goal with 2:04 left in the third period while junior Jason Salvaggio (Hanson, Mass.) and freshman Brendan van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) each scored a goal.

The Huskies fell to 7-10-4 overall and 1-8-2 in league play. They were led Zach Aston-Reese who had two goals and one assist while line mate John Stevens had one goal and two assists.

UNH's next home game takes place on Friday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. when they take on Providence College for the first of two games that weekend. Tickets are available by calling the Whittemore Center ticket office at (603) 862-4000 or by clicking Buy Tickets Here. The Wildcats play next at Fenway Park on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. against Northeastern.

GAME INFORMATION

Date: January 12, 2017 (7:00 p.m.)
Score: New Hampshire 5, Northeastern 3
New Records: New Hampshire (11-8-2, 6-2-1 HEA) // Northeastern (7-10-2, 1-8-2)
Location: Whittemore Center Arena (Durham, N.H.)

WHAT HAPPENED

The Huskies got on the board first at 4:18 of the first period as Aston-Reese scored his 20th goal of the year. The play started with Garrett Cecere sending the puck to John Stevens from behind his own net. Stevens skated into the UNH zone and played it to Aston-Reese who fired a wrister into the net.

Northeastern took a 2-0 lead at 7:49 of the first period with a goal by Stevens. The puck was played to him by Eric Williams from along the boards to in front of the net. Stevens redirected a shot from the top of the crease and into the net.

The Wildcats were quick to respond when van Riemsdyk scored his fifth goal of the season and his third in as many games at 7:59 of the first stanza. Freshman Liam Blackburn (Prince George, British Columbia) won the faceoff back to senior blueliner Dylan Maller (Parkland, Fla.) in the UNH zone. Maller played the puck up to Blackburn along the boards in the neutral zone who skated in with it. Blackburn found van Riemsdyk on the opposite side of the ice in the faceoff circle. He then ripped a wrist shot past Ruck and into the net.

While on a power play in the second period, the Huskies regained a two goal lead as Aston-Reese scored his second of the game at 6:02 of the frame. After attempts to clear the puck, Stevens blocked one and played it to Aston-Reese who put his shot away.

UNH got back to within one goal at 9:32 of the second period as Salvaggio scored his third goal in the last two games. He started the play as he intercepted a NU pass and skated into the neutral zone. Salvaggio found McNicholas along the boards who sent the puck back to him for a one-time goal. It was his 14th of the season.

UNH tied the game at 3-3 with 6:37 remaining in the third period as Grasso scored his 13th goal of the season. Blackburn got his second assist of the night on the play as he won the faceoff directly back to Grasso. Grasso launched a shot that went past NU goaltender Ryan Ruck and into the net.

With 2:04 left in the third period, Vela scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal on a tip in front of the net. Eiserman sent a pass to Cleland at the top of the point who fired a shot in at the net. Vela redirected it with his stick and into the net.

Grasso scored his second goal of the game with 56 seconds left in the third period on an empty net play. Blackburn gained control of the puck and sent it to Grasso who played it down ice into the net.