ORONO, Maine - Matt Mangene (Miller Place, N.Y.) scored 23 seconds into the second period to give the University of Maine men's ice hockey team a 2-1 lead and it held as the Black Bears defeated Providence 3-1 on Saturday night at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine to complete the weekend sweep. Maine improves to 3-2-1 on the season and 3-1-0 in conference play. Providence falls to 2-3-1 overall and 2-2-0 in Hockey East play.
Jon Swavely (Reading, Pa.) began the play when he forced a Providence turnover and got the puck to Kyle Beattie (Avondale, Ariz.). He found Adam Shemansky (Robbinsville, N.J.) who fired a shot that found the top of the net from the right face-off circle in transition. For Shemansky, it was his second goal of the season.
Providence tied the score at 1-1 midway through the first frame. Stefan Demopoulos had a shot that was blocked and Derek Army was able to get the puck back out to Damian Cross. Cross beat Maine goalie Dan Sullivan (York, Pa.) for a power play goal.
Mangene scored the eventual game-winner just 23 seconds into the second period. Will O'Neill (Salem, Mass.) got the puck to Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.). Flynn found Mangene just inside the blueline and he rifled a shot past Providence goalie Alex Beaudry for his first goal of the season.
The game remained 2-1 until the final second of the game. Providence pulled goalie Beaudry in favor of an extra attacker. The Friars were applying tremendous pressure and Maine goalie Sullivan was up to the task. With seconds remaining in the game, Mangene was able to gain control of the puck and rim it up to Klas Leidermark (Gavle, Sweden.) Leidermark deposited the puck into the empty net for his second goal of the season and ensure the victory for the Black Bears.
Maine held a slim 28-27 edge in shots on goal. Sullivan was impressive, stopping 26 shots, including 13 in the third period alone. He improves to 2-0-1 on the season. Beaudry made 25 saves. He falls to 2-3-1 on the campaign.
Maine finished the game 0-for-4 on the power play, while Providence was 1-for-7.
The Black Bears return to action on Friday, Nov. 4 when they travel to Boston College to face the Eagles. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM. Providence next hosts Vermont.