Kohei Sato skates with the puck for UNH during Wednesday's game at UMass-Amherst. (Courtesy photo by Christopher Tucci)

AMHERST, Mass. – Matthew Kessel netted two goals for the Minutemen as the University of New Hampshire men’s hockey team fell to No. 8 UMass, 4-0, on Wednesday afternoon at the Mullins Center. Matt Murray posted 21 saves for UMass to record the shutout.

The Wildcats fall to 2-3-1 (2-3-1 Hockey East), while the Minutemen improve to 9-3-1 (9-3-1 Hockey East).

Reed Lebster buried a breakaway goal at 11:57 to give UMass a 1-0 advantage in the first. Marc Del Gaizo connected with Lebster as he sent a stretch pass down the ice to allow for the breakaway.

UMass outshot UNH 7-6 in the first period. The Wildcats were 0-1 on the power play as the Minutemen were also 0-1.

At 6:38 of the second period, Bobby Trivigno gave the Minutemen a 2-0 lead in the second as he capitalized on the power play. Oliver Chau ripped a shot that was saved and Trivingo picked up the rebound and sent it to the back of the net.

Matthew Kessel rocketed a one-timer to the back of the net and gave UMass a 3-0 lead while on the power play in the second period at 8:47. Chau posted an assist on the goal.

UMass outshot UNH by a 19-8 margin while the Wildcats went 0-3 on the power play and the Minutemen went 2-2.

Matthew Kessel extended UMass’ lead on the power play to 4-0 at 14:51 of the third period. He collected a bouncing puck from the boards and wristed one home.

The Wildcats will play No. 2 Boston College in a home-and-home series on Friday, Jan. 8 and Sunday, Jan. 10. The Friday game will be at the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass., at 7 p.m. on NESN, while the contest on Sunday will take place at the Whittemore Center at 4:00 p.m. on College SportsLive.

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