Freshman Jacob Micflikier scored four goals, including the game-winner, and assisted on another to propel No. 3 New Hampshire to a 9-2 non-conference victory against Union at the Whittemore Center.
The Wildcats improved to 4-1-0 overall and is 1-0-0 in Hockey East. This was the first loss of the season for Union, now 4-1-1 (0-0-0 ECAC).
With the Wildcats holding a 2-1 lead at the first intermission, Micflikier netted second-period tallies at 5:58 and 9:29 to extend New Hampshire’s advantage to 4-1 through two stanzas. He scored his first goal of the night on a deflection of a shot by Mike Lubesnick from the right point and then struck on the power play from the slot.
Mike Ayers recorded 10 saves for UNH and allowed two goals in 53:28, then Jeff Pietrasiak went the rest of the way with one save. Union’s Kris Mayotte stopped 18 of 25 shots in 49:11, with Tim Roth playing the final 10:49 and turning aside five of seven shots.
Brian Yandle opened the scoring for UNH with a power-play goal at 6:08 of the first period. Sean Collins initiated the scoring sequence by winning the puck in the right corner. Steve Saviano (two goals, one assist) collected the puck, skated behind the net and slid the puck in the slot to Yandle, who scored with a wrist shot.
The Dutchmen tied the game, 1-1, on a power-play goal at 14:19 when Joel Beal’s centering pass from the left corner caromed off Ayers’ leg pad and into the net.
But UNH regained the lead, 2-1, on a goal by Justin Aikins with 52 seconds to play in the first.
Leading 4-1 after two, the Wildcats pulled away in the final period with goals by Saviano at 2:36 and 9:00, then Micflikier completed his hat trick 11 seconds later to chase Mayotte from the game.
Union’s A.J. Palkovich trimmed the deficit to 7-2 at 12:38, but Dan Travis responded for UNH with a goal one minute later and Micflikier capped the scoring with his fourth of the night at 15:05.
Fourteen Wildcats recorded at least one point. Preston Callander finished with three assists while Collins, Nathan Martz and Tyson Teplitsky each finished with two assists to join Micflikier and Saviano as multiple-point scorers.
New Hampshire returns to action Nov. 7 (8 p.m.) at Boston University. Union tries to bounce back with a home game against Bentley on Sunday at 3 p.m.
