NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - Compared with the ice palaces located in some places around Hockey East, Merrimack's Lawler Arena looks like a high school rink.

Especially when the University of New Hampshire is here.

Then, the arena's inhabitants tend to look school-boyish, as well. That trend didn't change last night, as the Wildcats extended their unbeaten streak at Merrimack to 12 games and almost nine years with a 4-1 triumph witnessed by a quiet crowd of 2,383.

"We're gaining confidence with every game," said Coach Dick Umile, whose sixth-ranked Wildcats climbed to 6-2-1 with their fourth win in five tries. "We've fallen behind two games in a row, 2-0 the other day (against Providence) in the first period and 1-0 against Merrimack, but the guys stayed focused. I like the way they're responding and playing with confidence."

New Hampshire is now 26-1-4 in the last 31 meetings with Merrimack, a domination that was slightly in doubt through almost 30 minutes last night. The Warriors outshot the Wildcats, 11-7, in a scoreless first period, then jumped out to a one-goal lead when Mike Crusco stuffed a rebound less than five minutes into the middle frame.

But the hosts didn't hold the lead for long. Feeding off their own energy and flying around as if they were the home team, the 'Cats answered almost immediately, retaliating with three tallies in a span of 3:23 and never trailing again.

Hooksett's Brian Pouliot sparked the spurt with his first career score, wristing a shot from the slot that ripped past Frank McLaughlin's glove hand. Seventy-five seconds later, another New Hampshire player pick up his first career point, when Chris Murray dished to Preston Callander, who put Jacob Micflikier into position for a quick flick of the wrist from just inside the edge of the faceoff circle. The puck tucked inside the near post, and just like that, UNH was in complete control.

"That was huge," said New Hampshire netminder Kevin Regan. "It's tough giving up the first goal, but all the credit goes to Brian Pouliot and Jacob Micflikier to help get this team rolling in the right direction again."

Callander tacked on another assist only 2:08 after he helped Micflikier, leaving the puck near the blue line for Brian Yandle, who fired a one-timer through a screen to finally add a goal to the 11 assists that made him the team's leading scorer. Also assisting Yandle was Justin Aikins, who responded with a well-played game after being benched for Friday's game against Providence following a five-game scoreless streak.

"It's a good road win for us,"Umile said after his team improved to 3-1-0 in league play. "I wasn't pleased with the first period, but I'll give credit to Merrimack. They battle, and you've got to really earn it down here. We came out in the second period and went ahead, and played a very solid third period."

Micflikier added a second goal, and Callander a third assist, when Merrimack (3-8-0, 1-6-0) Coach Chris Serino pulled his goalie in the final minute, but thanks to the 30 saves of freshman goalie Regan, neither were necessary.

Regan improved to 2-1 in his brief collegiate career, again shining under unrelenting pressure. In three appearances for the Wildcats, the rookie has faced a total of 111 shots - but allowed just eight goals, and with a save percentage pushing 93.3, he is clearly comfortable in his adjustment to the college level.

"The USHL really prepared me well," he said. "It was a bigger jump for me to go from high school to juniors than juniors to here."

Regan made 15 stops in the second period, including three in succession with five minutes to go in the frame. First with his glove, then with his blocker, and later with his leg pad, he frustrated the Warriors first line and protected the advantage his teammates had built. They repaid the favor in the third, forcing their goalie to turn away only four attempts, but Regan had already earned the right to play more during a stretch of five games in a dozen days that started last night.

"He's a real good goaltender,"Umile said. "He's got a lot of confidence and he works hard at his game. He's a proven winner, and we're very comfortable with him. The way he's playing, and the way (junior) Jeff (Pietrasiak) is playing, we're very excited about our goaltending."

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