ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine men's ice hockey team defeated the #15/#18 Merrimack College Warriors, 3-2, in overtime on Sunday afternoon in the Alfond Arena.
First Goal (1-0 #15/#18 Merrimack): The Warriors snagged a 1-0 lead 1:25 into the first period. Maine turned the puck over at the blue line. Matt Copponi and Alex Jefferies played tic-tac-toe before Jefferies found the back of the net. It was the only goal of the first period as Maine trailed 1-0 after the first 20:00.
The second period was skated to a 0-0 tie. Victor Ostman saved all 11 shots he faced in the 20:00, while the Black Bears were called for four penalties.
Second Goal (2-0 #15/#18 Merrimack): After blocking a Black Bear shot, Ryan Liebold skated the length of the ice and scored the second goal of the day for Merrimack. Jordan Seyfert left the puck for Liebold, who did the rest. The lead would be short lived.
Third Goal (2-1 #15/#18 Merrimack): While on their sixth penalty kill of the afternoon, Lynden Breen scored the first goal of the night for the Black Bears. After winning the face-off, David Breazeale flipped the puck ahead to Ben Poisson. The senior forward saucered the puck over to Breen, who did the rest. It would not be his only short handed goal of the kill.
Fourth Goal (2-2): 1:04 of game play later, Breen tied the Hockey East contest. Victor Ostman collected the puck behind his net and left it for Grayson Arnott. Arnott threaded a pass through the neutral zone to Breen. With no one in front of the junior, Breen tied the game with 9:30 left in the third period.
Fifth Goal (3-2 Maine): With 1:24 remaining in the five minute overtime period, Ben Poisson scored the game winning goal. Lynden Breen carried the puck into the zone and played it over to Luke Antonacci. Poisson snuck behind the Warriors' defense and was all alone in front of the Merrimack net. Antonacci put a pass on Poisson's stick before it deflected past Hugo Ollas. Maine's first lead of the day was enough for the win.
Notes: Victor Ostman saved 30 shots in net for the Black Bears, while Hugo Ollas stopped 25 shots between the pipes for Merrimack College.
Maine went 0 for 3 on the power play, as the Warriors were 0-7 on its player advantages.
Next: The Black Bears return to the ice next Friday, February 10 for a single game at Boston College. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
