(Box Score) 

         WATERVILLE VALLEY, N.H. - Freshman Jonathan Grandinetti (Ottawa, Ont.) scored a power play goal at 4:40 of the third period Saturday evening and that stood as the game-winner as the University of New England defeated Plymouth State University, 2-1, in a non-conference men's ice hockey game at Waterville Valley Arena.

         Grandinetti's shot from the point slipped inside the right goal post to give the Nor'easters (1-8) their first victory as a varsity program. PSU dropped its third in a row and fell to 6-4.  It was the first game for both teams since the break for final exams and the holidays.

         The teams split a pair of goals in the first two minutes of the game, freshman Matt Aponte (Plano, Texas) putting PSU on the board 35 seconds into the contest and sophomore Kyle MacLennan (New Glasgow, N.S.) answering for UNE at 2:03.  It stayed a 1-1 game until Grandinetti's eventual game-winner four minutes into the third period.

         Freshman Dallas Ungurian (Edmonton, Alb.) stopped 41 shots in the UNE goal to record the victory.  He was solid in the third period, stopping all 19 shots he faced as PSU out-shot the visitors 19-3 in the final frame.  Senior Aaron Runner (Alpharetta, Ga.) finished with 21 saves in the Panther goal as PSU ended up with a 42-23 shot advantage.

         PSU continues its five-game home stand next weekend (Jan. 9-10) with a pair of home games Saturday and Sunday against Wentworth.  UNE returns home to face the University of Rhode Island club team Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.

--- 30 ---