Hockey Defeats #16 New Hampshire to Open Second Half

Friday, December 29

West Point, NY

7:00 PM

Army West Point

5-12-0

University of New Hampshire

8-5-1

New Hampshire

Army West Point

Hockey Defeats #16 New Hampshire to Open Second Half

December 29, 2023 | Hockey

Box Score

WEST POINT, NY - Army West Point hockey (5-12-0, 3-8-0 Atlantic Hockey) picked up its first victory over a ranked opponent since 2017 with a 6-3 win over #16 New Hampshire (8-5-1, 4-2-1 Hockey East) in front of a sold out crowd at Tate Rink on Friday night.

Gavin Abric held onto the lead all game for the Black Knights in net, making a season-best 42 stops in the win. Plebe Barron Woodring potted his first two collegiate goals as Army's fourth-line came through with a pair of even strength scores. Mac Gadowsky, John Driscoll, Lucas Kanta and Joey Baez all logged multi-point efforts as Army poured in a season-high six goals.

It marked Army's first win against a ranked opponent since taking down New Hampshire by a score of 4-3 on 12-9-17 which was the team's fourth win over a ranked program that season.

Playing in its first home game in 41 days, Army wasted no time getting out on the front foot with Woodring scoring six minutes into the game after collecting a loose puck off Kanta's skate while entering the zone.

Max Itagaki doubled the lead with just over five minutes remaining in the period, firing home a one-timer off a centering pass from Gadowsky for another even strength goal for the Black Knights. It marked the fourth goal of the season for Itagaki while Gadowksy continued his strong play, seeing him post 11 points across Army's past five games.

UNH was able to kill off three penalties in the opening frame despite outshooting Army 9-6 through the first twenty minutes. However, Army took its fourth power-play into the second period, with John Driscoll making it a 3-0 game in the first minute off a wristshot after taking pass from Itagaki.

Playing with the lead, Army then took back-to-back penalties, and the Wildcats were able to score on each opportunity to suddenly make it a 3-2 game less than eight minutes into the second. The one-goal game would last less than two minutes, as Army's fourth line once again came through with Kanta feeding Woodring again for his second tally of the game and his career. Army took a 4-2 lead into the final period.

With a faceoff in Army's defensive zone under ten seconds into the third, UNH found a lifeline as Ryan Conmy fired home a third goal for UNH directly off a faceoff win from Cy Leclerc. Joey Baez was able to restore order just minutes later on the power-play, skating into open space before tucking home his 17th career power-play goal, which leads all active Atlantic Hockey players.

Gavin Abric was the story for the remainder of the game, making 19 saves total in the third period on his way to a 42-save outing as the Wildcats continued to pepper the Army netminder with shots down the stretch. Army held firm as UNH pulled its goalie with over three minutes to play, as Brent Keefer eventually sealed the victory with his team-leading eighth goal of the seaon on the empty net.

Army ends 2023 on a high note, winners of five of its last eight contests as the team now prepares to host Bentley on Tuesday, January 2nd at 7:00 p.m.