DURHAM, N.H. - Senior forward Conor Lovett (Franklin, Mass.) scored a career-high two goals as the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team defeated RIT, 6-1, on Saturday evening at the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex in non-conference action.
The other goal scorers for UNH were sophomore forward J.P. Turner (East Falmouth, Mass.), freshman forward Ryan MacPherson (Windsor, Ontario), senior forward Robert Cronin (Plymouth, Mass.) and senior defenseman Luke Reid (Warman, Saskatchewan).
The Wildcats swept the two-game series as they also won on Friday, 5-1.
Junior goalie Jared Whale (Calgary, Alberta) made 16 saves.
The Wildcats improve to 6-4-2 overall, while the Tigers fall to 3-12-1.
UP NEXT:
- The Wildcats return to action at Northeastern on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. on NESN and ESPN+.
- The next home game for UNH is an exhibition versus the U.S. Under-18 Team on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. presented by East Coast Lumber as the annual Teddy Bear Toss will be held.
- Tickets can be purchased at UNHWildcats.com/BuyTickets or by calling the ticket office at (603) 862-4000. Don't miss the most exciting family entertainment in New Hampshire.
Score: UNH 6, RIT 1
Records: UNH (6-4-2, 1-3-2 Hockey East), RIT (3-12-1, 2-6-1 Atlantic Hockey)
Location: Durham, N.H. (Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024
Attendance: 3,619
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Wildcats took the 1-0 lead at 3:08 of the first period as senior forward Connor Sweeney (North Andover, Mass.) sent a pass behind to Lovett who netted a goal glove side. Graduate student defenseman Nikolai Jenson (Cold Spring, Minn.) also tallied an assist on the goal.
- Just 30 seconds later at 3:38, Turner fired a shot from the left faceoff circle landing the puck glove side to give UNH its second goal of the evening. The goal was assisted by Cronin and sophomore forward Marty Lavins (Riga, Latvia).
- At 9:29, Tyler Fukakusa netted a power-play goal to the lower stick side of the net for the Tigers making it a 2-1 game.
- At 7:17 of the second period, MacPherson scored his first collegiate goal when he stole the puck in the RIT zone and sent a shot glove side from the slot to give the 'Cats the 3-1 lead.
- The Wildcats made it 4-1 at 10:00 when senior forward Liam Devlin (Needham, Mass.) sent a pass in front of the net to Cronin who redirected the puck glove side to score a power play goal.
- At 8:59 of the third period, sophomore forward Ryan Conmy (Alexandria, Va.) sent a pass to Reid who ripped a shot to the upper stick side of the net, posting his first goal of the season and increasing the UNH lead to 5-1.
- At 13:00, the UNH scored the last goal of the game for the 6-1 final as MacPherson slid the puck in front of the net to Lovett who fired a shot glove side and netted his second goal of the evening. Senior defenseman Luis Lindner (Spittal an der Drau, Austria) also recorded an assist on the goal.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- UNH outshot RIT, 36-17.
- The Wildcats went 1-4 on the power play, and the Tigers went 1-3.
- Whale made 16 saves to improve to 6-4-2 on the season, while Ethan David tallied 30 in his first collegiate start.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- MacPherson recorded his first collegiate goal and assist.
- Lovett's two goals were a career-high.
- Turner now has two game winning goals this season and three for his career.
- Conmy extended his point streak to six games, while he has at least one point in 10 of the 11 games he has played in this season with six goals and eight assists for 14 points.
- UNH now leads the all time series versus RIT, 3-2-0.
