BOSTON, Mass. -- The No. 2 ranked University of New Hampshire Wildcats defeated the Providence College Friars, 6-2, in the HOCKEY EAST Semifinals on Friday, March 19 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Mass.

After a scoreless first period, Steve O'Brien broke the 0-0 tie when he blasted a slap shot from the right circle that sailed over the left shoulder of PC goaltender Boyd Ballard at 4:08 of the second period. The Wildcats quickly struck again when Christian Bragnalo fired a slap shot from the right point on the power play at 6:20 of the second period. PC got on the scoreboard when Mike Omicioli broke up a play at the PC blueline while killing a penalty and broke in on UNH goaltender Ty Conklin. Omicioli wristed in a high shot that beat Conklin to the glove side at 9:03. UNH regained its two-goal lead at 19:06 of the second period when Chad Onufrechuk was all alone in front of the net and slid a low backhander under a sprawling Ballard.

The Friars cut the lead to one when Doug Sheppard tipped a Jason Ialongo's shot from the right point during a power play at 1:31 of the third period. UNH opened up its lead when John Sadowski scored off a rebound at 10:43 of the third period. Jason Krog flipped in UNH's fifth goal off a rebound at 11:41 of the third. UNH's Darren Haydar redirected a shot during a power play for the Wildcats sixth goal at 15:46 of the third.

With the win, New Hampshire raised its record to 29-5-3 overall while Providence finished its season with a 20-17-1 mark.

Friday, March 19, 1999

FleetCenter, Boston, Mass.

Providence College (20-17-1) 0 1 1 -- 2 9-18 1-5

New Hampshire (29-5-3) 0 3 3 -- 6 9-18 3-5

Per Time Team Goal Scorer (Assists)

2 4:08 UNH Steve O'Brien 4 (Mike Souza, Jason Krog) 4 x 4

2 6:20 UNH Christian Bragnalo 3 (Dan Enders, John Sadowski) PP

2 9:03 PC Mike Omicioli 19 (unassisted) SH

2 19:06 UNH Chad Onufrechuk 5 (John Sadowski) SH

3 1:31 PC Doug Sheppard 15 (Jason Ialongo, Fernando Pisani)

3 10:43 UNH John Sadowski 7 (Chad Onufrechuk, Dan Enders) PP

3 11:41 UNH Jason Krog 31 (Darren Haydar, Mike Souza)

3 15:46 UNH Darren Haydar 29 (Jason Krog, Jayme Filopwicz) PP

Saves:

Boyd Ballard (PC) 3 10 7 --20 (57:26)

Mark Kane (PC) x x 2 --2 (2:34)

Ty Conklin (UNH) 11 5 10 --26 (60:00)

Attendance: xxxx (FleetCenter)