Chase Stevenson tries to maneuver the puck for UNH during Wednesday's game vs. UMass. (UNH courtesy photo by by Jack Bouchard)

DURHAM, N.H. – Matthew Kessel posted one goal and two assists for the Minutemen as the University of New Hampshire men’s hockey team fell to No. 9 UMass, 4-0, at the Whittemore Center on Wednesday.

UMass goalie Matt Murray made 27 saves to record the shutout.

The Wildcats fall to 1-1-1 (1-1-1 Hockey East), while the Minutemen improve to 6-3-1 (6-3-1 Hockey East).

The first period went scoreless as UNH had 10 shots on goal, while UMass took six. The Wildcats were 0-3 on the power play and the Minutemen were 0-1. At 11:58 of the second period, Kessel wristed the puck to the back of the net to give the Minutemen a 1-0 lead. UNH outshot UMass by a 11-10 margin in the period, while the Wildcats went 0-3 on the power play and the Minutemen went 0-1.

Carson Gicewicz chipped one in for the Minutemen at 4:24 of the third period to extend the lead to 2-0. At 17:00, the ‘Cats pulled Robinson in exchange for an extra attacker. Bobby Trivigno then buried an empty net goal for the Minutemen at 17:04 giving UMass a 3-0 lead.

Zac Jones found the back of the net for the Minutemen with 32 seconds remaining for the 4-0 final.

Senior goalie Mike Robinson of Bedford made 19 saves for the Wildcats.