The New Hampshire

Issue date: 11/7/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Mike Marasco The Wildcats, shown celebrating last Friday, handed Northeastern their second loss in a row Saturday. Senior assistant captain Chris Murray (20), scored his third career goal in the win.

Sophomore forward Trevor Smith scored another two points (1g, 1a) to help the No. 13 ranked University of New Hampshire men's hockey team to a weekend sweep of Northeastern University with a 3-1 victory on Saturday night in front of 3,596 fans at Matthews Arena.

With the victory, the Wildcats improve to 4-2-0 on the season and 2-1-0 in Hockey East play. Northeastern drops to 2-5-1, 0-4-1 in Hockey East action. The Wildcats have now won the last five meetings vs. Northeastern at Matthews Arena. UNH is now 14-0-3 against NU in the last 17 meetings of the series.

Senior assistant captain Chris Murray gave UNH a 2-1 lead with only 2:03 remaining in the second period. Murray took a shot from the right point, and the puck was deflected by a Northeastern defender into the net. Smith and junior forward Matt Fornataro were credited with assists on Murray's third career goal. Sophomore blueliner, Jamie Fritsch, gave UNH a 3-1 lead at 19:23 of the second period on a slapshot from the left point on the power-play. Seniors Brett Hemingway and Jacob Micflikier posted assists on the third goal of the game. The Wildcats scored all three goals in the second stanza.

UNH got on the board at the 5:18 mark of the second period as Smith continued his six-game goal-scoring streak with his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Smith crashed the net down the right slot, while Fornataro fed the puck from the left side behind the NU goal. Smith collected his own rebound and scored on the second attempt to tie the game 1-1. Sophomore Jerry Pollastrone also earned an assist on the Smith tally.

The Wildcats went into the locker room down 1-0 after a goal by senior forward Mike Morris at 9:40 of the opening period. On the power-play, Morris shot the puck which hit Joe Charlebois and was redirected into the net. Steve Birnstill and Kyle Kraemer assisted on Morris' third goal of the season. The Huskies had a decided 17-6 shots advantage over the 'Cats in the first period.

Junior goaltender Kevin Regan made 29 saves in his 47th collegiate start, including 16 saves in the first period. Regan has won all six starts against Northeastern in his Wildcat career. Freshman goalie Brad Thiessen totaled 21 stops in the losing cause for Northeastern.

In the first period, UNH killed off a 5x3 penalty for 33 seconds with 5:09 remaining in the first period. The Wildcat power-play went 1 for 6 on the night, while NU was 1-7 with a man up. The Huskies out-shot UNH 30-24 for the game.

The Wildcats return to action on Friday, Nov. 10 against the Boston University Terriers. Game time at the Whittemore Center is 7 p.m.

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