Maine Edges Massachusetts, 3-2
Junior defenseman Rob Michel posts goal and assist for Black Bears

Junior defenseman Rob Michel scored a goal and an assist for the Black Bears
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
1st 3:43  MNE1-0 EV Eduards Tralmaks (9)Mitchell Fossier/14
1st 8:03  UMA1-1 PP Austin Plevy (4)Josh Couturier/8, Jake McLaughlin/7
1st 11:31  UMA2-1 EV Griff Jeszka (2)Mario Ferraro/12, Austin Plevy/4
2nd 13:46  MNE2-2 PP Rob Michel (4)Chase Pearson/18, Mitchell Fossier/15
3rd 14:58  MNE3-2 SH GW Cédric Lacroix (3)Rob Michel/8
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Maine  1113
Massachusetts  2002
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
Maine  610824
Massachusetts  1251330
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Maine (13-9-4)  1/6 6/12 1
Massachusetts (11-13-1)  1/6 6/12 0
Maine Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Jeremy Swayman (W, 10-5-3)59:552 1051328
Empty Net0:050     
Massachusetts Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Matt Murray (L, 4-9-1)58:583 59721
Empty Net1:020     

AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts hockey sat deadlocked at 2-2 with Maine heading into the third period, but a shorthanded goal with just over five minutes to play in regulation carried the Black Bears past UMass, 3-2 on Friday night at the Mullins Center. Following the setback, the Minutemen are now 11-13-1 overall and 5-9-1 in Hockey East play, while Maine moves to 13-9-4 overall and 7-6-3 in league action.

"This to me, maybe the first time this year, felt like a must win." said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "We've been on the road a long time. We've played well at home and were playing a team we're really trying to catch in the standings and that we played a few weeks ago and played extremely well. So I thought this game was kind of set up for us to get home and start winning some games again. It's very frustrating. It's a game I felt we needed to have for a lot of reasons and all we can do is move on."

Maine jumped out in front 3:43 into the contest with Mitchell Fossier picking off a pass behind the UMass net and sending a backhand feed into the slot for Eduards Tralmaks, who managed to beat netminder Matt Murray glove side for the tally.

UMass tied the score at 1-1 at the 8:03 mark on the power play. Collecting a pass from redshirt sophomore Josh Couturier and sophomore Jake McLaughlin, junior Austin Plevy drove to the net and tucked the puck behind the left pad of Jeremy Swayman for his fourth of the season.

The Minutemen then pulled in front, 2-1, 11:31 into the opening frame. Sophomore Griff Jeszka knocked in a feed from freshman Mario Ferraro and Plevy at the top of the Maine crease.

At the 13:46 mark of the second period, however, the Black Bears managed to tie the score at 2-2. Rob Michel fired a rebound into an open net after Chase Pearson's initial shot hit the post. Mitchell Fossier earned an assist on the play, as well.

With UMass on the power play late in the third, Michel took the puck up the ice for Maine shorthanded and blasted a long-range slap shot that was stopped by Murray. However, Cedric Lacroix crashed the net to clean up the rebound, scoring what would prove to be the game winner for the Black Bears at 14:58.

The Minutemen had several late chances and generated sustained offensive zone time with the extra skater on in the final minute of regulation, but were unable to come up with the equalizer. UMass finished the contest with a 30-24 shot advantage and went 1-for-6 on the power play, while Maine was 1-for-6, as well. Murray stopped 21 shots for the Minutemen and Swayman had 28 saves for the Black Bears.

The teams will be back in action tomorrow night, Jan. 27, squaring off at the Mullins Center for game two of the weekend set at 7 p.m.