ORONO, Maine -- Stu Higgins (Troy, Mich.) scored 59 seconds into overtime as the University of Maine men's ice hockey team overcame a 3-0 deficit to defeat Alabama-Huntsville on Friday night at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine. The Black Bears improve to 15-8-3 on the season with the win. Spencer Abbott (Hamilton, Ontario) had a goal and two assists for the Black Bears in the game.
Alabama-Huntsville notched the first goal of the game when Mac Roy found Justin Cseter, who then dove on the ice and slid the puck to Kyle Lysaght. Lysaght tallied his seventh goal of the season 11:29 into the first period to give the Chargers a 1-0 lead.
Alabama-Huntsville struck again at 13:14 in the second period when Justin Cseter won the faceoff back to Mac Roy. Roy then immediately got a shot off that beat Dan Sullivan (York, Pa.) high to give the Chargers their second goal of the game. Alabama-Huntsville then grabbed a 3-0 lead when Justin Cseter found the back of the net with a goal that slipped between Sullivan's leg and the goal post. Assisting Cseter on the play were Kyle Lysaght and Mac Roy. Despite being outshot 21-9 in the game at that point, Alabama-Huntsville took the 3-0 lead into the second intermission.
Maine came out firing in the third period and got on the scoreboard when Matt Mangene (Miller Place, N.Y.) tipped a Spencer Abbott shot past UAH goalie Clarke Saunders. Will O'Neill (Salem, Mass.) also assisted on the power play goal.
Maine pulled to within one goal when Andrew Cerretani (Pelham, N.H.) notched his first career goal. He corralled the rebound of a Kyle Beattie (Avondale, Ariz.) shot on the goal line and fired it past Saunders. Adam Shemansky (Robbinsville, N.J.) also assisted on the goal.
Maine pulled goalie Dan Sullivan in favor of an extra attacker in the final minute and a half of regulation. Mangene had a shot that hit Abbott, who was able to control the rebound. He then fired the puck into the back of the net or his 14th goal of the season at 19:14. Mark Anthoine (Lewiston, Maine) also assisted on the goal.
In overtime, Higgins scored on the rebound of his initial shot, giving the Black Bears the 4-3 win. For Higgins, it was his third goal of the season.
Maine finished the game with a commanding 38-11 edge in shots on goal. The Black Bears were 1-for-6 on the power play. It was Maine's 18th straight game scoring a power play goal. Alabama-Huntsville finished 0-for-3.
Maine goalie Dan Sullivan made eight saves in the game. He improves to 14-5-3. Clarke Saunders stopped 34 shots for the Chargers and falls to 2-19-1 on the season.
The two teams conclude the two-game series on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Alfond Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM. Tickets can be purchased at the door.