Dec. 6, 2008

DURHAM, N.H. - Blake Kessel (Verona, Wis.) scored the game winning goal with less than two minutes remaining in the third period as No. 19 New Hampshire came from behind to defeat No. 17 UMass Lowell, 3-2, Saturday night in Hockey East action at the Whittemore Center

The Wildcats have won two straight and improve to 7-6-3 overall and 5-4-2 in league play. The River Hawks have lost two in a row and fall to 8-7-0 overall and 5-5-0 in league play.

UMass Lowell held two leads in the game - 1-0 and 2-1 - but New Hampshire scored two third period goals to earn the victory Saturday and a weekend sweep in the home-and-home series.

Sammy D'Agostino gave the River Hawks their first lead just 1:51 into the first period when he lifted a backhand shot over UNH goaltender Brian Foster. The goal was D'Agostino's second against UNH and third of the season. Chris Auger and Jeremy Dehner assisted on the goal.

Greg Collins (Fairport, N.Y.) got the Wildcats on the board at 12:17 of the second period, just 14 seconds after the conclusion of their fourth power play of the night. Bobby Butler and Kevin Kapstad earned the assists.

Maury Edwards put the River Hawks back on top with his fourth goal of the season, a power play marker, at 10:44. The goal came with just 10 seconds remaining in the power play. Kory Falite (Billerica, Mass.) and Ben Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, Colo.) assisted on the goal.

Seventy-four seconds after the Edwards goal Jerry Pallastrone (Revere, Mass.) tied the game with his first goal of the season. Peter LeBlanc (Hamilton, Ont.) and Bobby Butler (Marlboro, Mass.) had the assists.

Kessel gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game to score the game-winner at 18:10 of the third period. Phil DeSimone (East Amherst, N.Y.) and James van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J.) picked up the assists.

Brian Foster (Pembroke N.H.), who shutout the River Hawks Friday night, stopped 15 shots to earn his sixth win of the season. He made seven third period saves.

Nevin Hamilton (Ashland, Mass.) made 28 saves, but took the loss for the second night in a row. The junior goaltender is 5-4-0 on the season.

New Hampshire held a 22-9 edge in shots on goal through two periods and a 31-17 edge for the game. UNH was 1-for-6 on the power play. UML was 1-for-4 on the man-advantage.

The River Hawks return to the ice Friday night when they visit Boston University. The Wildcats conclude their first half schedule Thursday night when they host Holy Cross.