ORONO, Maine - The #11 University of Maine men's ice hockey dropped a 4-1 decision to UMass on Saturday night at Alfond Arena. The Black Bears got a third period goal by Joey Diamond (Long Beach, N.Y.) to pull to within a goal, but that was as close as Maine would get. The Black Bears fall to 18-10-3 on the season and 13-9-2 in conference play. UMass improves to 11-14-5 overall, 7-12-4 in conference play.
UMass got on the scoreboard in the first minute of play. Maine goalie Dan Sullivan (York, Pa.) went behind the net to play the puck, but it got caught in his skate. Steven Guzzo was able to gain control of the puck and tap it into the net.
The Minutemen took a 2-0 lead with a power play goal at 12:25 of the second period. Michael Marcou had a shot that Sullivan stopped, but the puck came to Michael Pereira on the post. He was able to stuff the puck between Sullivan's pad and the post to give UMass the 2-0 lead.
Maine scored just 30 seconds into the third period to pull to within one goal. Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.) stopped the puck in the neutral zone and passed to Spencer Abbott (Hamilton, Ontario) who fired the puck into offensive zone. Joey Diamond got the puck from behind the net, firing a shot on goal as he was falling to the ice. The puck beat UMass goalie Kevin Byle for his team-leading 20th goal of the season.
Maine applied pressure, but was able to get no closer. The Black Bears killed off a five minute major early in the third period.
UMass extended its lead to 3-1 when Marcou carried the puck up the ice. He then slid it to Rocco Carzo in the slot who redirected it past Sullivan for his second goal of the season. Eric Filiou added an empty-net goal at 19:04 to make it a 4-1 final.
UMass outshot Maine 23-22 in the game. The Black Bears were scoreless in three power play chances, while UMass finished 1-for-3. Maine had gone five games without allowing a power play goal.
Sullivan made 19 saves in goal for the Black Bears and falls to 17-7-3 on the season. Kevin Boyle made 21 saves for UMass. He improves to 7-4-4 on the season.
Maine hits the road next weekend for a series at Northeastern. The Black Bears then return home on March 3 to host UNH in the regular season finale. It was announced on Saturday at the game will be televised on NESN and puck drop is scheduled for 4 PM.