Nov. 22, 2008

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. - The Providence College men's hockey team rallied from a 4-1 deficit but was defeated at 13th-ranked New Hampshire, 4-3, Saturday night in a Hockey East game at the Whittemore Center. The Wildcats broke open a 1-1 game with three goals in the second period and held on for the win.

The Friars took a 1-0 lead at the 8:34 mark of the first period when junior John Cavanagh (Warwick, R.I.) connected on his team-leading fourth goal of the season after a scrum in front. Sophomore Ian O'Connor (Londonderry, N.H.) assisted on the goal. The Wildcats responded at 12:44 when Mike Borisenok scored his first goal of the season to even the score at 1-1.

UNH gained the lead (2-1) at 2:06 of the second period as James vanRiemsdyk was in on a breakaway against PC netminder Justin Gates (Cranston, R.I.). Gates made the initial save, but Mike Sislo pounced on the rebound and scored his sixth goal of the season. Just 1:41 later, Danny Dries scored from the left circle as UNH increased its lead to 3-1. The Friars had a chance to cut into the lead about halfway through the second period as they had consecutive power plays, including a two-man advantage, but were not able to convert. UNH then went on the power play and Dries scored his second goal of the night at 10:41 to help his team to a three-goal edge (4-1).

The Friars cut the lead to 4-2 early in the third period when freshman Matt Bergland (Faribault, Minn.) was on a partial breakaway and tallied his third goal of the season at 1:27. Senior Kyle Laughlin (Gambrills, Md.) and sophomore Joe Lavin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) assisted on the goal. The Friars pulled to within, 4-3, at 12:23 when Mark Fayne (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) scored his first goal of the season. Fayne took pass from senior Matt Taormina (Washington Township, Mich.) and ripped a one timer past UNH goalie Brian Foster. Senior Pierce Norton (South Boston, Mass.) also assisted on the goal. Freshman Robert Maloney (Eagan, Minn.) nearly tied the game at 17:54 when his shot after a scrum in front was saved by Foster. Later in the period, sophomore Eric Baier (North Kingstown, R.I.) hit the cross bar on a shot from the top of the right circle.

The Friars outshot the Wildcats, 35-30, including an 18-3 edge in the third period. Foster finished with 32 saves, while Gates stopped 25 shots.

The Friars are back in action on Friday, November 28 with a home non-conference game against Dartmouth.