Freshman defenseman Damien Carfagna scored in overtime for the Wildcats
Carfagna Scores in Overtime to Lift New Hampshire Past UConn, 3-2
Freshman defenseman Damien Carfagna scored in overtime for the Wildcats

Box Score - Highlights

DURHAM, N.H. - Freshman defenseman Damien Carfagna (Wood-Ridge, N.J.) scored the game winning goal in overtime as the University of New Hampshire's men's hockey team defeated No. 13 UConn, 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at the Whittemore Center.

The Wildcats, who have won four in a row and seven of their last nine, improved to 11-18-1 (6-13-1 Hockey East), while the Huskies fall to 17-10-3 (11-8-2 Hockey East). UNH swept the weekend series which included the 4-1 victory on Friday.


UP NEXT:

- The Wildcats will return to action on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17-18 for White Out The Whitt versus Maine at the Whittemore Center at 7 p.m. in a Border Battle Series presented by Buffalo Wild Wings. Friday will feature a t-shirt giveaway to the first 2,500 fans. The game on Saturday will be presented by Eastern Propane as the Wildcats will honor their seniors. The last time White Out The Whitt was held was Feb. 1-2, 2019.

- 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: New Hampshire 3, UConn 2 (OT)
Records: UNH (11-18-1, 6-13-1 Hockey East); UConn (17-10-3, 11-8-2 Hockey East)
Location: Durham, N.H. (Whittemore Center)
Date: Saturday, Feb.11, 2023
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Attendance: 4,845


HOW IT HAPPENED:

- At 16:17 of the first period, the Huskies took the lead 1-0 as Harrison Rees fired a shot landing it stick side in the back of the net.

- At 11:51 of the second period, the Wildcats tied the game 1-1 as freshman forward Stiven Sardarian (Saint Petersburg, Russia) netted a goal glove side in front of the net for his second goal of the season. Freshman forward Kristaps Skrastins (Grobina, Latvia) and junior defenseman Nikolai Jenson (Cold Spring, Minn.) both tallied an assist on the goal.

- At 2:05 of the third period, the Wildcats took the lead 2-1 when sophomore forward Liam Devlin (Needham, Mass.) sent a pass to sophomore defenseman Colton Huard (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) who then fired a shot through traffic that was tipped in by freshman forward Jake Dunlap (Windham, N.H.) for his third goal of the season.

- UConn tied the game 2-2 at 7:43 of the third period as James Pearson fired a one-timer landing it glove side.

- Carfagna then scored the game winner for the Wildcats directly in front of the net off a pass by Dunlap. Senior forward Chase Stevenson (West Kelowna, British Columbia) also recorded an assist on the goal.


INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Freshman goaltender Tyler Muszelik (Long Valley, N.J.) recorded 23 saves to secure the win, while Arsenii Sergeev had 27.

- UNH outshot UConn, 30-25

- The Wildcats went 0-2 on the power play, while the Huskies went 0-3.


BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

- UNH is 6-2-0 in its last eight games versus nationally ranked teams.

- The Wildcats are 20-13-1 all-time versus UConn.

- Carfagna now has two game-winning overtime goals this season. He also scored the game winner versus No. 15 Merrimack on Feb. 3 in the 3-2 overtime win.

- UNH is 4-3-1 in overtime this season.

- Stevenson is on a four-game point streak with four goals and three assists for seven points.

- Dunlap's two points was his first multi-point game of his career.

- The last time the Wildcats won four straight was when they went on a five-game winning streak from Dec. 31, 2021-Jan. 21-2022.