DURHAM – Reed Lebster scored the game winner for the Minutemen as the University of New Hampshire men’s hockey team fell to No. 15 UMass, 4-2, on Friday evening at the Whittemore Center.  

With the game tied at 2, at 6:24 of the second period, UMass took the lead for good when Lebster netted the third goal of the game for the Minutemen assisted by Connors and Cal Kiefiuk.

At 15:48, the Minutemen advanced to a 4-2 advantage when Ryan Lautenbach fired a one timer hitting the top right corner of the net assisted by Ryan Ufko and Cameron Michael.

The Wildcats fall to 3-10-1 (0-9-1 Hockey East), while the Minutemen advance to 6-5-1 (2-5-0 Hockey East).

The Wildcats took the lead 1-0 at 13:07 of the first period on the power play when senior defenseman Kalle Eriksson (Leksand, Sweeden) sent a pass to freshman forward Cy LeClerc of Brentwood, who then ripped a shot to the top right corner of the net. Sophomore defenseman Colton Huard (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) also tallied an assist on the goal. 

The Wildcats made it 2-0 at 17:52 of the first period when junior forward Nick Cafarelli (Middleton, Mass.) sent puck directly off a faceoff to senior forward Ryan Black (pictured above) who then fired the puck to the bottom right glove side corner burying it in the back of the net. 

At 2:53 of the second period the Minutemen scored their first goal of the night when Kenny Connors blasted a shot hitting the back left corner of the net. Scott Morrow and Cole O’Hara both recorded an assist on the goal.

The Minutemen made it 2-2 at 3:24 of the second period when Ryan Sullivan sent a wrist shot scoring a goal bar down. Elliott McDermott and Matt Koopman both posted an assist on the goal.

UNh senior goaltender David Fessenden recorded 21 saves, while Luke Pavicich had 35 to secure the win.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

BOSTON COLLEGE 3, UNH 1

Grad student Emily Pinto (Mulmur, Ontario) scored a third-period goal to lift the University of New Hampshire women’s hockey team within a goal, but Boston College skated to a 3-1 victory Friday night at Conte Forum.

Pinto extended her point streak to three games with her tally at 10:02 of the final frame. Senior Jada Christian (Caledon East, Ontario) and junior Kyla Bent (Halifax, Nova Scotia) were credited with the assists. Senior goaltender Nicky Harnett (Plymouth, Minn.) made 11 of her 25 saves in the second period.

UNH moves to 5-11-0 overall and 4-9-0 in Hockey East and B.C. is now 7-7-1, 6-5-0.  

The two teams meet again today at UNH at the Whittemore Center at 2 p.m.

(UNH men’s hockey photo above courtesy of Jess Speechley/UNH Athletics)