FOSTER STOPS 34 TO LIFT #16 UNH MEN’S HOCKEY TO 4-1 OVER BU

BOSTON – Brian Foster (Pembroke, N.H.) stopped 34 shots including 17 in the third period, while Damon Kipp (Salmon Arm, British Columbia) registered the game-winning goal and added an assist to lift the 16th-ranked University of New Hampshire men’s hockey team to Saturday night’s 4-1 Boston University in Hockey East action at Agganis Arena.

UNH, which extends its Hockey East unbeaten streak to 11-games (9-0-2), has now won four-straight and improves to 12-7-4 overall, 11-2-3 in Hockey East. BU falls to 8-11-3, 6-9-2 HE. The Wildcats build their lead in Hockey East to a season-best five points be virtue of a Boston College loss.

UNH broke the deadlock early in the first as Mike Borisenok (Watervliet, N.Y.) scored his second goal in as many nights. The tally, which came off a loose puck scrum in front of the BU net, was assisted by Stevie Moses (Leominster, Mass.) and Dalton Speelman (San Jose, Calif.) at 5:10. BU held a 10-8 shot advantage, while both teams were 0-1 on the power play.

The Wildcats extended the lead to 2-0 at 7:58 of the second period as Kipp scored the eventual game-winner on a one-timer from the right point. Mike Sislo (Superior, Wis.) and Peter LeBlanc (Hamilton, Ontario) were credited with assists on the tally. UNH added to its lead with an even-strength goal on an outstanding individual effort by Bobby Butler (Marlboro, Mass.), who scored his 17th goal of the season after being denied once by BU netminder Grant Rollheiser. Kipp and Phil DeSimone (East Amherst, N.Y.) were credited with helpers on the goal at 15:24, which gave the Wildcats a 3-0 advantage heading into the second intermission. UNH held a 16-7 shot advantage in the period.

The Terriers took control of the pace in the third period thanks in part to four Wildcat penalties including 1:19 stretch of 5-3 with 48 seconds of that played 6-3 with BU pulling its goalie in favor of an extra skater. While BU did not score on the 6-3, the Terriers finally broke through with a power play goal at 9:09 of the period. Chris Connolly scored from the left side of the net with assists from Vinny Saponari and Nick Bonino. BU continued to put the pressure on, however it was UNH that responded with an insurance goal at 17:27 of the third. The power play goal came on a one-timer from the left point from Sislo and was assisted by LeBlanc and defenseman Brett Kostolansky (Denver, Colo.).

Foster improves to 11-7-4 overall, while Rollheiser falls to 2-1-3 on the season.

UNH was 1-6 on the power play, while BU was 1-6 ending UNH’s penalty kill streak at 25.

The Terriers, which held an 18-8 shot advantage in the third period, outshot New Hampshire 35-32 on the night.

UNH returns to action on Friday, Jan. 29 (7 p.m.) at Merrimack College’s J. Thom Lawler Arena. The Wildcats will play host to the Warriors on Saturday night at the Whittemore Center (7 p.m.). For more information on UNH hockey including live stats, live video, tickets and live audio log onto www.UNHWildcats.com.