DURHAM, N.H. – UNH forward Jackson Pierson scored the game-winning goal for the Wildcats with a second period penalty shot as they defeated Vermont 2-1 Friday evening in Hockey East action from the Whittemore Center.
 
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COACH'S QUOTE
"First period showed we haven't played in two weekends," Head Coach Todd Woodcroft said. "Second and third we were closer to our identity. The momentum changed in our favor but a goal against on the PK and a penalty shot were the deciding factors, back at it tomorrow."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Wildcats opened the scoring 12:24 into the first period on the power play. Harrison Blaisdell corralled a loose puck at the side of the net and fed it cross-crease to Filip Engarås who buried a one-timer for his third goal of the season. Will Margel also earned an assist on the tally.
• With 4:48 left in the second period the Wildcats were awarded a penalty shot after it was ruled that UVM's Tyler Harmon threw his stick in an attempt to stop the puck. Pierson skated in with speed, faked backhand and beat Harmon to the post on his forehand to double the UNH lead.
• Vermont was able to get one back 5:34 into the third period with a power play goal of their own. Philip Lagunov passed to Simon Jellus at the faceoff circle who quickly one-touched the puck to Robbie Stucker at the point. Stucker gathered the puck and stepped into a wrist shot but it was redirected by a UNH defender back to Jellus. Jellus corralled the puck and fired it home to extend his goal streak to three games.
• UVM used its timeout with 1:51 left in regulation and pulled Harmon for an extra attacker. Vermont had a couple of good looks in the final minute but couldn't solve UNH's David Fessenden a second time.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Joel Määttä won 11 of the 18 faceoffs he took Friday evening and blocked a team-high two shots.
• Simon Jellus has three goals and one assist in his last three games all in Hockey East play.

WHO'S NEXT
The Catamounts and Wildcats will faceoff again on Saturday at 7 p.m. with the broadcast airing live for free on CollegeSportsLive. The voice of the Catamounts, Adam LaFleur, will also broadcast the action live on WVMT (FM 96.3 / AM 620).
 
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