The University of Massachusetts hockey team's weekend split with New Hampshire kept the Minutemen in first place in Hockey East and kept the Minutemen climbing in the U.S. College Hockey Online Top 25.

UMass (7-2, 4-2 Hockey East) jumped three spots to No. 11 in the poll. The Minutemen are the second-highest ranked team in both the conference and the state university system behind No. 4 UMass-Lowell (7-2-1, 3-1-1).

Minuteman redshirt freshman forward David Boehm, who had the game-winning goal in Friday's dramatic 4-3 overtime win over the Wildcats, was honored as the Hockey East rookie of the week.

On Saturday, Bobby Butler scored two goals and goaltender Brian Foster made 33 saves to give New Hampshire a 4-2 win and a split of their weekend series at the Mullins Center.

Butler gave the Wildcats (3-6-2, 3-2-1 Hockey East) leads of 1-0 and 3-1.

After Will Ortiz scored for UMass to tie the game 1-1 after four minutes, 37 seconds were played in the second period, Peter LeBlanc restored New Hampshire's lead 44 seconds later.

Martin Nolet got the Minutemen back within one goal when he scored with 1:35 remaining in the second period.

Mike Sislo scored the only goal in the third period for the Wildcats with 8:01 left to play.

Paul Dainton made 14 saves in goal for UMass, which outshot New Hampshire 35-18.

The Minutemen play at No. 9 Yale (2-1-2) at 7 p.m. Thursday.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SIGNS TWO - Coach Marnie Dacko added a combo guard and a center to her UMass women's basketball team during the early signing period.

The Minutewomen received a national letter of intent from 6-foot-4 center Sara English on Monday, three days after getting one from 5-foot-8 combo guard Talen Watson.

English, of Smithtown, N.Y., averaged 11.3 rebounds per game last year for Smithtown High School.

"Sara English is a true post player," Dacko said in a prepared statement. "She wants to play with her back to the basket and is a proficient scorer down low. At 6-4, Sara is an imposing presence; she presents a big target for our guards at the offensive end of the floor and will be an anchor for our defense."

Watson, of Odenton, Md., led Arundel Senior High with 105 assists as a junior and helped lead her team to the Class 4A state semifinals and a 22-5 record.

"Talen Watson will be an excellent addition to our backcourt," Dacko said. "She can handle the ball and create her own shot off the dribble. I was impressed with her defensive abilities, as well, as she is a very good on-the-ball defender and will enable us to extend our defense."

SOFTBALL SIGNS SEVEN - UMass softball coach Elaine Sortino brought in a big freshman class that will debut in the spring of 2011.

"This class really has the potential to contribute to all aspects of the program - offensively, defensively, pitching, infield, outfield," Sortino said in a prepared statement. "We are replacing a very strong class with a very strong class of potential, competitiveness, athleticism, and versatility."

The recruits are Samantha Gray, a catcher/infielder from Skowegan, Maine; Paige Hansen, an infielder from Concord, N.H.; Tiffany Meeks, an infielder from Salinas, Calif.; Maggie Quealy, a catcher/utility player from Plainville; Caroline Raymond, a pitcher from Downingtown, Pa.; Candace Waldie, a catcher from North Andover; and Lindsey Webster, a pitcher/outfielder from Northridge, Calif.

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Follow UMass coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/GazetteUMass. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at http://www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage.