Clark Lifts Maine Past UMass in Overtime, 5-4
Wes Clark and Andrew Sweetland each score two goals for Black Bears

Wes Clark scored the game-winner for Maine

Orono, Me. - Wes Clark (Oakville, Ontario) notched the game-winning goal 2:56 into overtime as the University of Maine men's ice hockey team completed a weekend sweep of UMass on Sunday afternoon with a 5-4 victory in a game televised nationally on ESPNU. It was the second goal of the game for Clark. Andrew Sweetland (Bonavista, Newfoundland) also chipped in with a pair of goals and an assist for the Black Bears. Maine improves to 10-17-3 on the season and 6-14-3 in Hockey East play, while UMass falls to 11-13-6 overall and 6-12-5 in conference play.

Maine took a 1-0 lead with a power play goal 8:40 into the first period. Keenan Hopson (Prince George, British Columbia) found Travis Ramsey (Lakewood, Calif.) on the blueline. Chris Hahn (Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan) was able to tip Ramsey's shot past UMass netminder Paul Dainton, giving Maine a 1-0 lead. For Hahn, it was his fifth goal of the season.

Maine added to its lead late in the first period. Rob Bellamy (Westfield, Mass.) found Sweetland who beat Dainton for his seventh goal of the campaign.

UMass got on the board at 9:48 of the second period. Justin Braun and P.J. Fenton teamed up to find Chris Davis who beat Maine goalie Ben Bishop (Des Peres, Mo.) with a shot from just in front of the goal. For Davis, it was his fourth goal of the season.

Maine answered back when Bret Tyler (Maynard, Mass.) found Clark who broke in alone on Dainton to give the Black Bears a 3-1 lead. Sweetland made it 4-1 with a power play goal at 18:11 from Hopson.

The Minutemen would score three third period goals to knot the game at 4-4. Fenton got UMass going with a power play goal from Cory Quirk just 1:44 into the period. Alex Berry tallied his sixth goal of the season at 4:54 from Mike Lecomte and Davis. Leaderer then teamed up with Mike Kostka to notch the tying goal. Kostka had his shot from the blueline beat Bishop at 16:31 of the third period.

The game remained tied at 4-4 until Sweetland was able to get the puck away from a UMass player in overtime. Sweetland then passed the puck towards the net where Clark was and he was able to redirect it past UMass goalie Dan Meyers, who played the final 20 minutes of regulation and overtime, for the game-winner. For Clark, it was his team-leading ninth goal of the season.

Bishop made 36 saves as he improves to 11-17-3 on the season. Dainton made 12 saves in 38:56, while Meyers stopped 12 shots in 22:56. Meyers picks up the loss and falls to 2-2 on the season.

The Black Bears return to action on Friday, Feb. 29 when they travel to Vermont for a game with the Catamounts.