New Hampshire and Boston University played a fast, clean, exciting
game Friday night, with BU prevailing in a 3-1 game.  For the second
game in a row, UNH faced a backup goaltender, as BU coach Jack Parker
elected to start freshman Derek Herlofsky (from Minneapolis).
Herlofsky played an excellent game, making 33 saves and picking up the
number one star.  UNH's Jeff Levy also played very well, making 32
saves and getting the third star.
 
BU opened up the game skating hard and hitting hard.  They flew around
the rink for the first seven minutes, scoring the game's opening goal
at 4:35.  Doug Friedman put a backhand into the top corner from the
slot off a feed from Mark Bavis.  Two consecutive penalties against
the Terriers took their momentum away, and UNH capitalized by scoring
on the two-man advantage.  Savo Mitrovic deflected a Domenic Amodeo
slapshot by Herlofsky, tying the score.  The Wildcats dominated the
remainder of the period, but couldn't get anything by the freshman
netminder.
 
UNH continued to play well at the beginning of the second period, but
two consecutive penalties against the Wildcats slowed them up.  BU,
though they didn't score on the powerplays, turned the momentum back
towards them.  At 13:24 defenseman Eric Royal lost the puck in his
skates, giving Mike Prendergast the chance to pick it up and continue
his rush down the right side.  He fired a huge blast that beat Levy,
giving BU the lead.  The Terriers controlled play for the rest of the
second period.
 
Play in the third period was very even.  The only goal came at 11:06,
when BU caught UNH in a line change and created a two-on-one
opportunity.  Kaj Linna dished to Petteri Koskimaki on the left wing,
and Koskimaki put it away.  UNH pressured often for the remainder of
the game, but again could not beat Holofsky.
 
UNH played much, much better than Monday night against SLU, but BU
played even better.  It's very scary to see this BU team, which has
seven or eight freshmen playing regular shifts, play this well.  Imagine
what they'll be like in a year or two.  And this was supposed to be a
rebuilding year for the Terriers...  In any event, it's hard to get
upset at the Wildcats' effort in this game.  They played hard and
didn't make many stupid mistakes.  This was a good game between two
good teams.
 
The three stars:  (1) Holofsky, (2) Linna, (3) Levy.
 
On the UNH front, senior defenseman Frank Messina sat out his second
straight game.  Apparently coach Umile is trying to *really* send
Messina a message.  Freshman Scott Malone may not flunk out after all,
but he didn't play either.  UNH plays at home Saturday night against
Boston College in a game that they really need to win.  UNH is now 5-3
in Hockey East.
 
----------------------------
at Walter Brown Arena, Boston, MA
Friday, January 17, 1992
 
New Hampshire (12-7).......1  0  0 - 1
Boston University (15-4)...1  1  1 - 3
 
First Period:
 
BU 1, UNH 0:  Doug Friedman (Mark Bavis), 4:35.
Penalty, BU:  Mike Bavis (hooking), 7:49.
Penalty, BU:  Kevin O'Sullivan (tripping), 8:26.
BU 1, UNH 1:  Savo Mitrovic (Domenic Amodeo, Jim McGrath), 9:09 (PPG).
 
Second Period:
 
Penalty, UNH:  Eric Flinton (hooking), 5:05.
Penalty, UNH:  Jesse Cooper (hooking), 7:28.
BU 2, UNH 1:  Mike Prendergast (Kaj Linna, David Sacco), 13:24.
Penalty, BU:  Friedman (holding), 14:36.
Penalty, BU:  Sacco (elbowing), 18:44.
 
Third Period:
 
BU 3, UNH 1:  Petteri Koskimaki (Steve Thornton, Mike Bavis), 11:06.
Penalty, UNH:  McGrath (hitting after whistle), 19:18.
Penalty, BU:  Koskimaki (hitting after whistle), 19:18.
 
Saves:
UNH: Jeff Levy, 7-16-9 = 32
BU:  Derek Herlofsky, 12-12-9 = 33
 
Powerplay Opportunities:
UNH:  1-4
BU:   0-2
 
Officals: Rich Fowkes (ref), B. Fowkes, and Bletzer.
Attendance:  3274.