ORONO – Ben Bishop might wake up today hoping his last 24 hours were all part of a dream – a very bad dream.

The rest of the University of Maine men’s ice hockey team will likely share stories about the same nightmare.

But Sunday afternoon’s meltdown against the University of New Hampshire was real.

Too real.

UNH sniper Mike Radja struck for two goals and an assist in the first period, and netminder Kevin Regan stopped 33 pucks to lead the Wildcats as they whitewashed the Black Bears 8-2 in front of 5,450 at Alfond Arena.

“They came out and kicked our butts in every category tonight,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead.

“We came out firing,” said Radja. “Any time you play a team on a long streak, you want to get out early like that.”

Bishop, the University of Maine’s sophomore netminder, had the worst outing of his collegiate career, allowing six goals on 18 shots, as Maine lost for the first time this season. The Black Bears (8-1-1, 3-1-1 Hockey East) had spent the last three weeks atop college hockey as the No. 1 team in the country. New Hampshire (5-2-1, 3-1-1) was No. 13.

“I’ll be the first one to admit I didn’t have my best game today,” said Bishop. “I wasn’t on tonight. It’s something I’ll get over, and now I have to look forward to getting ready for next weekend.”

“It obviously wasn’t his best night tonight,” agreed Whitehead, “but even Roger Clemens has a tough outing once in a while, even Tom Brady. He’s our Rock of Gibraltar back there, he had a tough night but he’s been absolutely fabulous to this point.”

New Hampshire, meanwhile, pulled out a win at Alfond Arena despite playing half of the second period, and nearly 18 minutes overall, down a skater. Maine’s power play, the Black Bears’ deadliest weapon this season, went 2-for-9, but squandered several chances in the middle frame and allowed a shorthanded goal in the first.

“I thought we made some progress in the second,” said Whitehead. “

Regan, a Boston Bruins’ prospect, was solid on the other end of the ice, too, stopping 33 of 35 to keep the Wildcats ahead.

“He played really well behind us,” said Radja. “He made some tough saves, and he controlled his rebounds. If it wasn’t for him, it could have been a whole different game.”

New Hampshire took a 3-0 lead into the second period. Twice Maine scored to pull within two goals, and twice the Wildcats responded with a clutch, against-the-grain goal to reestablish their advantage.

“Every time they started to gain some momentum, we were able to come back with a goal,” said UNH coach Richard Umile.

New Hampshire’s top line did all of the damage in the first period, and in nearly every possible way.

Radja put the Wildcats on top 1-0 with his sixth of the year on his team’s first shot of the game at 7:02. That goal came at even strength.

Just 2:17 later, Jacob Micflikier converted a pass from Radja on a UNH power play to put the visitors ahead 2-0, and after a Maine goal was disallowed on the power play in the final minute, New Hampshire struck again. Radja’s wrist shot on a 2-on-1 shorthanded break eluded Bishop with one tick left on the clock to put the Wildcats ahead 3-0.

“I had no idea how much time was left,” said Radja. “Afterward, I looked up at the clock, and I was shocked. It was great to end the first period on that note.”

Things got out of hand in the third as New Hampshire potted another trio of goals.

Chris Murray chased Bishop after his wrist shot from the point wove its way through traffic and beat him low.

The Wildcats didn’t cut backup Dave Wilson any slack, either, scoring on two of their first three shots against him to push the lead to 8-2.