by Ryan Fay
Sixth-ranked Union picked up a 3-1 non-conference win at 17th-ranked New Hampshire Friday night at the Whittemore Center.
Daniel Carr moved into a tie for first place on Union's career points list with a second period goal. With career 131 points, he is tied with Adam Presizniuk, who skated for the Dutchmen from 2007-2011.
Mat Bodie, Matt Hatch, Eli Lichtenwald and Michael Pontarelli each recorded two points. Hatch and Pontarelli both registered a goal and an assist while Bodie and Lichtenwald both chipped in two assists.
Niskayuna native Colin Stevens, fresh off a 3-0 shutout at Princeton last Saturday, collected a career-high 38 saves with nearly half (18) coming in the third period while Union (14-4-3) was protecting a lead.
The win, Union's first over New Hampshire at the Division I level, moved the Dutchmen to 6-1-1 against ranked opponents and 8-1-2 in road games this season.
"I thought at times we did a good job coming back, our forwards helped our defensemen and that benefited our transition game," Union head coach Rick Bennett said of the winning effort. "We also had some puck luck early on and were able to find the back of the net."
Hatch opened the scoring at 4:21 of the first when he poked in a rebound at the top of the crease for his sixth goal of the season.
Pontarelli recorded his ninth goal of the season at 7:06 when he fired a wrister from the slot to give Union a 2-0 lead.
Carr's team-best 11th tally of the season gave the Dutchmen some insurance when he scored in the waning seconds of a power play at 5:49 of the second following a flurry of looks.
After New Hampshire goaltender Casey DeSmith made a sliding save against Bodie, the rebound came to Lichtenwald at the top of the crease. DeSmith made a pad save on Lichtenwald's attempt, but the rebound came out to Carr at the right circle and he sent it into the back of the net to increase Union's lead to 3-0.
Nick Sorkin gave the Wildcats some life when he potted his 13th goal of the season on a three-on-one chance just under a minute into the third, but New Hampshire couldn't find the equalizer despite outshooting Union 19-11 over the final 20 minutes.
Union held New Hampshire (13-11-1) scoreless on three power play attempts. The Dutchmen have gone 9-for-9 on the penalty kill in three games since the calendar flipped to 2014.
Union will look for the sweep when the two teams square off again at 7 p.m. Saturday.
End Notes... Junior defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere returned after missing the last two periods against Princeton with a lower-body injury... he did not factor into the scoring.... New Hampshire's 39 shots were tied for the most Union has given up in a game this season (12/11 vs Dartmouth).
End Notes... Junior defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere returned after missing the last two periods against Princeton with a lower-body injury... he did not factor into the scoring.... New Hampshire's 39 shots were tied for the most Union has given up in a game this season (12/11 vs Dartmouth).
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