DURHAM, N.H. – After 579 days, the Union men's hockey team returned to action with a season opening 4-1 loss against the University of New Hampshire Friday night at the Whittemore Center.

Union struggled all game to generate offense, recording only 11 shots on goal. Junior Connor Murphy registered 37 saves in the loss. The Dutchmen went 0-for-4 on the power play while the Wildcats went 2-for-4 on the man advantage. In his collegiate debut, first-year Cullen Ferguson led all players with five blocked shots while sophomore Liam Robertson was second among all skaters with four.

Union got on the board at 2:00 in the first period. With the goalie out of position, sophomore Gleb Murtazin buried the puck for his first collegiate goal with junior Gabriel Seger and sophomore Bram Scheerer earning the assists.

The lead did not last as Murtazin ran into penalty trouble at 7:50 of the first period. Robert Cronin hit the one-timer to beat Murphy stick side to knot the game at one apiece at 9:15 in the first.

UNH went ahead late in the second period thanks to a goal from Eric MacAdams with 2:18 remaining. The Wildcats added two more goals in the third period to ice the game, 4-1.
Union looks to split the weekend series with UNH on Saturday. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. inside the Whittemore Center.