DURHAM N.H.- The University of New Hampshire (UNH) men’s hockey team (2-1-0) continue to show promise by competing with the highly ranked teams throughout the NCAA.
The fourth ranked Quinnipiac Bobcats (3-2-0) traveled to Durham for two games: one on Friday, Oct 20 and Saturday, Oct 21.
The first game was neck and neck up until the very last minutes. The two teams would score a total of seven throughout the entire game.
The first goal of the series went to Quinnipiac when Collin Graf beat the UNH defenders for a breakaway, scoring bar down on UNH goalie Tyler Muszelik’s glove side. This would be the only goal scored in the first period.
By the time the second period started UNH was looking for vengeance. Less than three minutes in, UNH defender Luis Lindner fired the puck into the traffic in front of the net. That would allow sophomore forward Stiven Sardarian to tip the puck in the net for UNH’s first goal of the game.
About two minutes after Sardarian’s goal freshman forward Ryan Conmy would add another goal to the scoreboard for UNH. This was Conmy’s first collegiate goal and was assisted from an across the crease pass by junior forward Liam Devlin.
Quinnipiac would tie the game during the third period when Travis Treloar scored. The Bobcats would take the lead after an unlucky bounce off Muszelik gave Mason Marcellus the perfect opportunity to score.
UNH pulled their goalie which allowed Quinnipiac to score two more goals, resulting in a 5-2 game.
However, the first loss of the season did not stop the Wildcats from coming out and performing well for the second game versus Quinnipiac. Like Friday’s game, Saturday’s game was jammed packed with goals, ending in a total of nine.
UNH’s first-year forward Marty Lavins scores quickly once he beats his defender, off of a cross ice pass from junior forward Robert Cronin. Not only was it the first goal of the game but also Lavins’ first collegiate goal.
However, it didn’t take long for Quinnipiac to retaliate. Defenseman Jayden Lee shot the puck on goal which rebounded perfectly to Victor Czerneckianair to score.
Minutes later, UNH would regain the lead when sophomore forward Cy LeClerc split the Bobcats’ defense and scored from the high slot.
UNH’s momentum would not stop there. Junior defenseman Colton Huard passed straight through two Quinnipiac players to sophomore forward Morgan Winters who then scored right in front of the net.
Shortly after, Quinnipiac’s Andon Cerbone would score off a scramble in front of the net.
With time winding down in the first period Quinnipiac used a moving screen past Muszelik allowing Sam Lipkin to score. They then squeezed one more goal into the period with seven seconds left to gain their first lead of the game.
With just over a minute into the period Quinnipiac’s Jacob Quillan received a penalty. Having seconds left in the power play Huard scored a goal off of a rebound shot by LeClerc. This would be the only goal of the second and third period.
The tied score would send the teams into a sudden death overtime for five minutes. Both teams would go back and forth asserting dominance up until there was a minute left.
Finally, UNH would get a clear chance when there was a battle in front of Quinnipiac’s net between Devlin, LeClerc and some Bobcats. The scramble would be won by LeClerc who scored the game winning goal of UNH to take down the reigning national champions.
The Wildcats look to upset another highly ranked team on Thursday, Oct 26 when the number 17 Northeastern Huskies come to Durham for a 7 p.m. game. They also have a home game on Saturday, Oct 28 against Dartmouth at 7 p.m. Both games can be watched on ESPN+.
