UNH AVOIDS SAINT UPSET, 2-1

Dec. 8: The University of New Hampshire struck for a pair of goals just 32 seconds apart in the third period for a 2-0 victory over St. Lawrence, deciding a goaltending battle in the first of four straight games for the Saints against Hockey East teams.

 

The second-ranked Wildcats rode an 11-game unbeaten streak and a eight-game win streak into Friday night’s game, the first of four straight for the Saints against Hockey East teams. SLU will play at UMass.-Lowell on Sunday afternoon and host Vermont on December 16 and then will play Boston University in the first round of the Ledyard Bank Classic at Dartmouth on Dec. 29.

 

Freshmen goaltenders Alex Petizian of St. Lawrence and Brian Foster of New Hampshire were the big story in the game as Petizian kept the Saints in contention during a hectic first period and Foster recorded his second straight shutout in as many starts and has yet to give up a goal in collegiate play.

 

UNH finally cracked the scoreboard with the teams skating four-on-four at 4:52 as Brad Flaishans took a shot off a faceoff win in the Saint zone and while Petizian made a lunging save on the quick shot, he could not control the rebound and Bobby Butler cruised in front and tucked it into the empty net. The Wildcats made it a 2-0 game just 32 seconds later when Josh Ciocco stepped out of the penalty box where he had been serving a minor on Brett Hemingway and Thomas Fortney hit him with a home-run pass at the Saint defensive blue line. Ciocco’s initial shot was saved by Petizian, but the UNH forward reached back and curled the rebound around the sprawled Saint goalie for the 2-0 lead.

 

The Saints pulled Petizian for an extra attacker with 2:48 to go, and while they spent most of the time in the UNH end, Foster and his Wildcat defense kept the Saints scoreless.

 

“It was a great effort from start to finish against an outstanding hockey team in a tough building to play in,” said Saint coach Joe Marsh. “Alex Petizian gave us our chances to steal one, but Foster came up with some big saves for them and they did a good job of denying us second chances. They are a very explosive team offensively and to hold them to two goals is a pretty good night.

 

“I think we have proven to ourselves that we can play with anyone…now we just want to build on the last three efforts and try to finish the pre-Christmas part of the schedule strong.”

 

Petizian had a busy first period, making 17 saves and while the shot board indicated a 17-3 margin in shots on goal for the Wildcats, the first 20 minutes was not actually that one-sided. UNH piled up a flurry of shots on one power play and the two teams were about even territorially.

 

Petizian stuffed Jerry Pollastrone from point blank range with just under seven minutes gone and came up with a pad save on a one-on-one with Greg Collins with 8:45 to go. At the other end the Saints had some great set-ups but shot the puck wide and Foster came up with a save on Casey Parenteau’s partial break with just under two minutes to play.

 

The goaltenders continued their domination in the second period, but the Saints turned things around on the shot board with an 18-5 margin in shots on net.

 

Foster came up big with power play saves on Kyle Rank and Jordan Hack early in the period, but Petizian had to answer quickly when Mike Radja broke the other way. Foster also had to come up big on close-in shots by Mike McKenzie and Tom Bardis as the game stayed scoreless through two.