MEN’S HOCKEY DOWNED BY NO. 19 WISCONSIN, 4-1

MADISON, Wis. – Senior netminder Brian Foster (Pembroke, N.H.) stopped a career-high 47 shots, but it was not enough as the University of New Hampshire men’s ice hockey team fell to 19th-ranked Wisconsin, 4-1, Friday night at Kohl Center in Madison Wis.

The Wildcats fall to 2-3-1 overall record, while Wisconsin moves to 2-2-1 overall.

The Badgers controlled the majority of play in a scoreless first period outshooting the Wildcats 18-5. The period also included a five-minute kill by UNH which was interrupted by a Badger penalty.

Wisconsin broke the scoreless deadlock with an even-strength goal at 5:43 as John Ramage scored on a one-time slap shot from the right point that beat Foster to the top right corner of the net. The tally was assisted by Aaron Bendickson, who won the faceoff in the offensive zone back to Ramage. The Badgers extended their to 2-0 as John Mitchell scored at 12:47 with assists from Ben Street and Cody Goloubef. Wisconsin was on the power play when the Wildcats broke into the scoring column as Peter LeBlanc (Hamilton, Ontario) stole the puck on the kill at the top of the blue line and starting a rare 2-0 shorthanded opportunity that ended with LeBlanc finishing what he started beating Wisco netminder Brett Bennett on the wide side of the net for the short-handed tally at 14:03. The Badgers held a 19-4 shot advantage and held a 37-9 advantage through two, but were 0-5 in power play opportunities with one UNH short-handed tally.

The Badgers regained its two-goal advantage at 5:22 of the third as Jake Gardiner score on a shot that was deflected in by off a Wildcat defender. The goal was aided by Ryan McDonagh and Michael Davies. Wisconsin added to its lead with a four-on-four goal at 9:15 of the third as Derek Stepan scored on a one-time shot from the right circle that was assisted by Brendan Smith.

Foster, whose previous career-high was a 41-save performance at Providence (11/19/07), notched double-figure saves in all three periods including 18 in the opening stanza. He moves to 2-3-1, while Bennett turned away 12 shots and improves to 2-1-0.

The Wildcats limited the Badgers to 0-6 on the power play including a short-handed goal, while UNH was 0-3 on the power play.

UNH and Wisconsin conclude the two game series on Saturday (8:07 p.m. EST) at Kohl Center. The Wildcats return home on Nov.6 (7 p.m.) against Hockey East foe Boston College. The game will be broadcast live from Whittemore Center on NESN.