Kristaps Skrastins scored his third goal of the season for UNH in Sunday's loss to UConn in Durham. (Courtesy photo by Lindsey Murphy/UNH Athletics)

DURHAM – With the Wildcats trailing 2-0 in the third period, sophomore forward Kristaps Skrastins (Grobina, Latvia) scored for UNH but the ‘Cats were then unable to find the equalizer as the No. 17 University of New Hampshire men’s hockey team fell to UConn, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon at the Whittemore Center at Key Auto Group Complex in Hockey East action.

The Wildcats fall to 12-7-1 (5-4-1 Hockey East), while the Huskies improve to 10-11-2 (6-8-1 Hockey East).

The Wildcats split the two-game regular season series versus the Huskies as UNH won 5-0 in Storrs on Friday. UNH is at Vermont this Friday and Saturday.

At 1:36 of the second period, UConn took a 1-0 lead when Ryan Tattle scored on a wrist shot from the slot that went to the glove side of the net.

Chase Bradley increased the UConn led to 2-0 at 13:57 when he fired a one-timer from the slot to the back of the net.

At 13:46 of the third period, the ‘Cats cut the deficit to 2-1 when a clear attempt by UConn deflected off the skate of freshman forward Marty Lavins (Riga, Latvia) and went to Skrastins who sent a shot from in front of the net to the upper stick side corner for his third goal of the season.

Junior goaltender Jakob Hellsten (Ljusdal, Sweden) recorded 22 saves for the Wildcats and is now 8-4-1 on the year, while Arsenii Sergeev tallied 43 saves to improve to 4-4-0.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

UCONN 4, UNH 0

Freshman goaltender Sedona Blair made 34 saves but the Wildcats were also defeated by 11th-ranked UConn at the Whittemore Center.

Blair made 11 saves in the first period, followed by nine in the second and 14 in the third.

UConn goalie Megan Warrener stopped 20 shots to record the shutout. Kathryn Stockdale and Coryn Tormala both tallied a goal and an assist to lead the Huskies’ offense. Ainsley Svetek and Megan Woodworth scored the other goals.

UNH moves to 10-12-2 overall and 7-8-2 in Hockey East. UConn is now 16-6-2 13-3-1.

The UNH vs. Maine Border Battle continues Jan. 26-27 at the Whittemore Center.

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