MAINE SWEEPS WEEKEND WITH 5-1 WIN OVER AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL
Sophomore forward Ryan Lomberg posts two goals and assist for Black Bears

Sophomore forward Ryan Lomberg had two goals and an assist for the Black Bears

ORONO, Maine - Ryan Lomberg (Richmond Hill, Ontario) scored two goals and added an assist to lead the University of Maine men's ice hockey team to a 5-1 win over American International College on Saturday night at Alfond Arena. The Black Bears improve to 9-6-1 on the season and enter the semester break with a three-game winning streak.

American International got on the board just 31 seconds into the game. Blake Peake had a shot that Maine goalie Dan Sullivan (York, Pa.) stopped, but the rebound when right to Chris Porter, who fired the puck into the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season.

Maine responded right away. Brian Morgan (Windham, N.H.) had a shot that went wide, but Cam Brown (Natick, Mass.) was able to track down the puck behind the net and feed Blaine Byron (Manotick, Ontario), who was skating down the slot. Byron one-timed the puck past AIC goalie Ryan Kerpan for his sixth goal of the season.

The two teams went into the first intermission tied at a goal apiece. Maine took the lead at 8:19 of the second frame when Stu Higgins (Troy, Mich.) scored the eventual game-winner. Mark Anthoine (Lewiston, Maine) had a shot that Kerpan saved, but the puck bounced right to Higgins, who shot it into the net for his fourth goal of the season. Lomberg also assisted on the play.

Lomberg added to Maine's lead less than two minutes later when the trio teamed up again. Again, Kerpan was able to make the initial shot but not control the rebound. Higgins and Anthoine both registered assists on the goal.

Maine made it a 4-1 lead at 2:39 of the third period. Dan Renouf (Pickering, Ontario) made a pass to Brian Morgan, who beat Kerpan for his fourth goal of the season. Byron also assisted on the goal. Maine capped the scoring at 11:01 when Devin Shore (Ajax, Ontario) fed Lomberg, who wristed a shot into the back of the goal in transition. Renouf also assisted on the goal for the Black Bears.

Maine outshot the Yellow Jackets 44-19 in the game. American International was scoreless in two power play opportunities. Maine did not have a chance with the man advantage. Connor Leen (Chester, N.Y.) was awarded a penalty shot, that he did not convert late in the second period.

Maine goalie, Dan Sullivan, making his first start of the season, made 18 saves in goal and improves to 1-0-0. Kerpan stopped 39 shots for the Yellow Jackets and falls to 0-3-0.

Maine returns to action when it plays Princeton in the opening round of the 2013 Florida College Classic on Saturday, Dec. 28.