University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
New Hampshire
UMass Hockey Drops Game One to New Hampshire, 4-1
March 14, 2008 | Hockey
March 14, 2008
DURHAM, N.H. - The eighth seeded UMass hockey team dropped a 4-1 decision to the top seeded, No. 4 nationally ranked New Hampshire Wildcats in the first game of their Hockey East Quarterfinal match-up on Friday evening. With the score tied at one through two periods, the Wildcats scored three times in the third period for the victory. Will Ortiz scored the lone goal for the Minutemen, his seventh of the season. Paul Dainton made 23 saves in goal for UMass. The two teams will square off again tomorrow night at the Whittemore Center. Gametime is scheduled for 7 p.m.
UMass (14-15-6, 9-14-5 HEA) took an early lead in the first period when Ortiz took a pass from Brett Watson and shot the puck through UNH goalie Kevin Regan. The goal was Ortiz's first since November 20 against Vermont. The Minutemen were awarded two power plays during the game, but went 0-for-2 against Hockey East's best penalty killing squad.
The Minutemen carried the play during the opening minutes of the first period, but UNH started to generate some chances of their own as the period wore on. Cory Quirk nearly gave UMass an early lead when he intercepted a clearing attempt by the Wildcats. Quirk gathered the puck and snapped a shot from the right face-off dot, but Regan got a piece of the puck and redirected it into the corner.
UMass would not be denied, however, as Ortiz netted his seventh goal of the season 2:28 into the period. After Ortiz had two chances on the doorstep, Watson collected the puck and fed Ortiz with a pass at the top of the left face-off dot. Ortiz fired a low shot on goal that beat Regan five-hole for the score. Matt Burto also assisted on the goal.
UNH (24-8-3, 20-5-3 HEA) started to pick up the tempo after the goal, as they forechecked aggressively on Dainton and the UMass defense. The Wildcats tied the game at one 6:24 into the stanza when Jerry Pollastrone scored his ninth goal of the season. When Mike Kostka attempted a shot from the point, Pollastrone blocked the shot and the puck squirted out into the neutral zone. Pollastrone picked up the puck, went in alone on Dainton, and shot the puck low on the freshman netminder. Dainton made the initial save but his momentum carried his body behind the goal line, taking the puck with him.
The Minutemen took two penalties in the opening frame, and the UNH power play constantly swarmed around the crease looking to collect any loose pucks. But the UMass penalty kill weathered the storm to prevent the Wildcats from taking the lead. The period ended with the Minutemen outshooting UNH 14-9.
Both teams traded chances during the second period, but neither squad could break the stalemate. The Minutemen and Wildcats each had eight shots on goal in the period, but UMass also had many shot attempts that were either blocked by UNH or shot wide. Regan seemed to struggle with rebounds during the period, giving UMass extra chances to take the lead.
Chris Davis had multiple scoring opportunities during the second period, the first coming with 8:23 left in the frame. Davis sent a cross-ice pass to Michael Lecomte, who blasted a shot from inside the UNH zone. Regan stopped the shot, but the puck fluttered up into the air for a few seconds, where he caught the puck to cease play.
Davis and P.J. Fenton had consecutive scoring chances with seven minutes to play in the period. Davis fed Fenton, who rifled a shot that was saved by Regan. Fenton picked up the rebound and guided a pass to Davis at the right face-off dot. Regan made the save, but the Wildcats were called for crosschecking, giving UMass their first power play chance of the night. The Minutemen, however, had trouble setting up the power play and getting shots on goal while on the man-advantage.
The Minutemen had their chances in the third period, but three goals by the Wildcats put the game out of reach. UMass looked to take an early third period lead when Fenton threaded a pass to Davis, but Davis' shot went off Regan's blocker.
UNH took a 2-1 lead 4:15 into the third when Mike Radja fired a pass cross ice to Matt Fornataro. Dainton dove across the crease to try to beat the puck, but Fornataro had already shot the puck into the net. The Wildcats almost scored again three minutes later when Danny Dries stick-handled through two UMass defensemen and backhanded a shot that hit the post.
UMass nearly tied the score when Kostka blasted a shot from the point that was blocked. Jordan Virtue gathered the loose puck and shot the puck towards the net. The puck got through traffic and just went wide. The Wildcats gathered the loose puck and skated up ice, where Thomas Fortney shot the puck from the right face-off dot. Dainton made the save, but the puck ended up on the stick of Greg Collins, who shot the puck in for the 3-1 lead.
The Minutemen had some chances of their own to get back into the game after the goal. David Leaderer sent a pass to Alex Berry, who backhanded the puck on goal, but Regan made the save. Berry had another chance when he dangled through the UNH defense, but again his shot was saved by Regan.
Fornataro nearly put the game out of reach when he was sent in on a breakaway on Dainton. Fornataro deeked to the left and tried to put the puck past Dainton, but he flashed the right pad to deny the scoring chance. After UMass called a timeout and pulled Dainton, Fenton blasted a shot from the point that hit the post. Pollastrone iced the game for UNH with an empty net goal with 45.8 seconds to play in regulation.
