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Freshman forward Cy LeClerc posted three assists for the Wildcats
New Hampshire Edged by Union, 4-3

Box Score

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - With the Wildcats trailing 3-0 in the second period, UNH scored three straight to tie the game at 3-3, but John Prokop recorded the game winner for the Dutchmen in the third period as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team fell to Union, 4-3, on Friday afternoon at Messa Rink.

Sophomore defenseman Colton Huard (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) and freshman forward Cy LeClerc (Brentwood, N.H.) each tallied three points. Huard posted two goals and one assist, while LeClerc had three assists.

The Wildcats fall to 4-15-1, while the Dutchmen improve to 7-10-1.

UP NEXT: Wildcats will return to action on Friday and Saturday,

- The Wildcats will conclude the two-game series at Union on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.

- After a road contest versus Providence on Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+, the Wildcats will play Sacred Heart on Sunday, Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. at the Whittemore Center on ESPN+ as there will be a postgame skate with the team.

- Go to UNHWildcats.com/Tickets or call the ticket office at (603) 862-4000 to catch the most exciting family entertainment in New Hampshire.

Score: Union 4, New Hampshire 3
Records: UNH 4-15-1, Union 7-10-1.
Location: Schenectady, N.Y. (Messa Rink)
Date: Friday, December 30, 2022
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Attendance: 1,530


HOW IT HAPPENED:

- At 4:23 into the first period, Owen Farris fired a one-timer from the slot above the blocker of senior goalie David Fessenden (Parker, Colo.) to put the Dutchmen on the board.

- Then at 2:21 of the second period Chris Theodore tipped the puck above the left pad of Fessenden to increase the lead to 2-0.

- At 4:15 into the second period Josh Nixon intercepted a UNH pass and went on a breakaway as he sent the puck to the bottom left corner of the net.

- The Wildcats responded at 10:10 when sophomore forward Liam Devlin (Needham, Mass.) shot the puck from the slot above the left shoulder of Connor Murphy for a power play goal. LeClerc and Huard posted assists on the goal.

- At 13:14, Huardfired the puck blocker side for the second straight power play goal for the Wildcats. LeClerc passed the puck from the point to Devlin who passed it across the crease to Huard.

- Then at 15:41, Huard blasted the puck from the faceoff dot above the left shoulder of Murphy for yet another power play goal. LeClerc sent the puck up the ice to junior forward Nick Cafarelli (Middleton, Mass.) who found Huard to set up the goal.

- But at 5:11 of the third period, Prokop fired the puck from the point above the left pad of Fessenden to give Union a 4-3 advantage.

- The Wildcats went with an empty net with 1:34 remaining but were unable to score the equalizer for the 4-3 final.


INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Fessenden made 13 saves, while Murphy tallied 33 saves for the Dutchmen.

- UNH outshot Union, 36-17.

- The Wildcats went 3-4 on the power play, while the Dutchmen went 1-2.


BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

- Huard's two goals are a career-best as he posted his third career multi-point game.

- LeClerc's three assists and three points were both career highs. The last time a Wildcat had three assists was Huard on Jan. 8, 2022 in the 5-1 win versus Clarkson.

- Devlin tallied one goal and one assist for two points for his fourth career multi-point game.

- The last time the Wildcats scored three power play goals was on Feb. 19, 2022 when they went 4-6 in the 5-2 win at Maine.