Going into the third period against UNH Feb. 7, the Catamounts led 3-2 and had all the momentum in the world.

Two power-play goals, a breakaway, and an empty-net goal later, the University of New Hampshire stunned the men’s ice hockey team with a come from behind win.

The game started off in the Wildcats favor after centerman Andrew Poturalski scored two goals within five minutes.

Vermont looked like a totally different team in the second period. Down two goals, senior Captain Mike Paliotta netted a power-play goal to the cut the lead in half. Just over a minute later on another power-play, first-year Kevin Irwin shot the puck off the post and  in past the Waldcat goaltender to knot the game at two.

The Cats would get another power play opportunity four minutes later. This time it was senior Colin Markison who fired home his seventh of the year to give the Catamounts the lead.

It appeared as if the ice was tilted in the third period, as New Hampshire ran away with the game after Matias Cleland tied it with a goal and Tyler Kelleher scored on a breakaway. UNH Captain Matt Willows scored the empty netter.

Junior Brody Hoffman started his second consecutive game in net but shouldered the loss. He exited the game with 2:07 to go with an apparent equipment issue and was replaced by sophomore Mike Santaguida.

No players were available to comment post-game.

“Disappointing effort, no questions about it, certainly after a great game we had last night. We took too many penalties and our penalty killers certainly didn’t do a good enough job from the net out,” Coach Kevin Sneddon said.

The Catamounts will travel to Chestnut Hill in Boston, Massachusetts next weekend to face Hockey East rival No. 11 Boston College for a two game set before returning for their final homestand the following weekend against No. 21 Merrimack College.