ORONO, Maine – No. 20 University of Massachusetts hockey held a 1-0 lead in the first, but two second period goals helped lift No. 6/7 Maine past the Minutemen, 3-2 on Sunday at Alfond Arena. The loss leaves UMass at 14-11-2 overall, 5-8-2 in Hockey East, while the Black Bears improve to 17-5-3 and 9-3-3 in league action.
“Well, I thought we played for about 50 minutes,” said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. “Unfortunately, we didn’t have a great start, but we found a way to make it close. And you know, the last minute of the game, we get a 2-on-1 and an empty net, then the goalie makes an unbelievable save. We played on the road with a top-five (Pairwise) team, but we could have been, should have been better. But it was a real hard-fought, good college hockey game.”
The Black Bears began the contest with a heavy shot advantage and edge in possession, UMass managed to get on the board first. Freshman Larry Keenan rimmed the puck down the wall for senior Ryan Lautenbach below the goal line. Lautenbach sent a no-look backhanded pass to the slot for a quick strike from junior Kenny Connors at the 8:24 mark of the first.
Maine managed to level the score at one in the final minute of the opening frame. Frank Djurasevic sent the puck up to the blueline where Brandon Holt fired a shot from the high slot that found its way through traffic and past goaltender Michael Hrabal at 19:24.
The Black Bears took the lead for the first time on a failed clearing attempt by UMass 1:15 into the second period. Harrison Scott kept the puck in the Minutemen end and set up David Breazeale and Josh Nadeau on a 2-on-1 that Nadeau finished into an open net.
UMass was quick to respond, leveling the score at 2-2. With Lucas Mercuri exiting the penalty box, the Minutemen went on a rush up the ice. Sophomore Jack Musa tapped the puck to Mercuri who found junior Cole O’Hara on the wing for the finish at the 2:11 mark.
Maine climbed back in front midway through the frame. Taylor Makar poked home a bouncing puck at the top of the Minutemen crease from Oskar Komarov and Holt at 11:43.
The Black Bears ended the contest with a 31-26 shot advantage. UMass was 0-for-3 on the power play and Maine was 0-for-5.
Hrabal finished with 28 saves for the Minutemen and Albin Boija stopped 24 for the Black Bears.
UMass will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 7, when the squad travels to #13/12 UConn for a 4:00 p.m. matchup in Storrs, Conn.
