Black Bears Complete Sweep of BU with 3-1 Win

Boston, Mass. -- The University of Maine men's ice hockey team completed the weekend sweep of second-ranked Boston University on Saturday night with a 3-1 win. Nick Pryor (Woodbury, Minn.) netted his first collegiate goal in the second period and it proved to be the game-winner. Maine improves to 14-8-3 on the season with the win and 11-7-2 in Hockey East play. Boston University falls to 15-8-1, 12-6-1 in conference play. Dan Sullivan (York, Pa.) made a career-high 38 save in the game.

The Black Bears have now swept #3 Boston College and #2 Boston University on back-to-back weekends.

Maine dominated play in the first period, but was unable to solve BU goalie Kieran Millan until just seven seconds remained in the frame. Mark Nemec (Rouses Point, N.Y.) had a shot that Jon Swavely (Reading, Pa.) was able to tip to John Parker (Green Point, N.J.). Parker fired the puck past Millan for his third goal of the season. Maine finished with a 21-8 edge in shots in the first period.

Boston University tied the game at 1-1 just 2:41 into the second period when Garrett Noonan tipped a Adam Clendening shot past Maine goalie Dan Sullivan (York, Pa.) on the power play. It was the ninth goal of the season for Noonan. Alex Chiasson also assisted on the goal for BU.

Maine took the lead at 6:00 of the second period when Pryor scored his first collegiate goal. Joey Diamond (Long Beach, N.Y.) won a face-off back in the slot. Pryor then took a few strides and blasted a slap shot that deflected off the post and into the back of the net.

The game remained tied until the Black Bears added an empty-net goal at 19:55. Will O'Neill (Salem, Mass.) dug the puck out of traffic and found Matt Mangene (Miller Place, N.Y.) in the neutral zone. He fired the puck into the empty net for his ninth goal of the season, giving Maine the 3-1 win.

Boston University outshot Maine 39-37 in the game. The Black Bears finished the game 1-for-8 on the power play, while BU was 1-for-5.

Maine goalie Dan Sullivan was outstanding, stopping 38 of the 39 shots that he faced in the game. He made 18 saves in the second period and all 12 in the third. He improves to 13-5-3 on the season. Kieran Millan made 34 saves for BU. He falls to 13-8-1.

The Black Bears return to action on Friday, Feb. 3 when they host Alabama-Huntsville.


--University of Maine Athletic Department

Black Bears Double Up #2 BU, 4-2

Boston, Mass. -- Spencer Abbott (Hamilton, Ontario) and Mark Anthoine (Lewiston, Maine) each had a goal and an assist as the University of Maine men's ice hockey team knocked off second-ranked Boston University on Friday night in front of over 5,066 fans at Agganis Arena. The Black Bears improves to 13-8-3 on the season with the win and 10-7-2 in Hockey East play. BU, who had not lost since falling to Notre Dame on Dec. 31, falls to 15-7-1 overall, 12-5-1 in conference play.

BU took a 1-0 lead with a power play goal at 17:56 of the opening frame. Chris Connolly and Wade Megan teamed up to find Alex Chiasson in the right face-off circle. He skated a stride and then fired a shot past Maine goalie Dan Sullivan (York, Pa.), giving BU the 1-0 lead.

Maine tied the game at 5:15 of the second period with a power play goal of their own. Mark Anthoine got the puck to Adam Shemansky (Robbinsville, N.J.) in the slot. Nearing the end of the power play, Shemansky had his shot on goal that beat BU goalie Kieran Millan.

Maine goalie Sullivan then robbed BU's Adam Clendening who had a clean breakaway to keep the game tied 1-1.

Maine took a 2-1 lead when Mark Nemec (Rouses Point, N.Y.) threaded a perfect pass to John Parker (Green Brook, N.J.) in transition. Parker fired a shot that went past Millan and into the back of the net. For Parker, it was his second goal of the season. Ryan Hegarty (Arlington, Mass.) also assisted on the goal for the Black Bears. As soon as Parker scored, the lights above the ice went off and the game was delayed for approximately 20 minute delay.

BU tied the game at 2-2 when Ross Gaudet collected the puck on the goal line and banked the puck off Sullivan and into the back of the net.

Maine took a 3-2 lead at 10:08 of the third period when Spencer Abbott got a pass from Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.) from the bottom of the circle. Abbott skated a few strides towards the blueline and fired a shot that Mark Anthoine tipped past BU goalie Kieran Millan. For Anthoine, it was his ninth goal of the season and eighth on the power play.

BU pulled their goalie with just under 2:00 left in regulation. A BU defender shot the puck from the point and Abbott blocked it. He then collected the puck, skated down the ice and fired the puck into the empty-net, giving Maine the 4-2 lead.

BU outshot Maine 30-25 in the game. The Black Bears finished 2-for-4 on the power play, while BU scored on its lone power play opportunity.

Maine goalie Dan Sullivan was outstanding, making 28 saves in goal. He made several brilliant stops for the Black Bears. He improves to 12-5-3 on the season. Kieran Millan made 21 saves in goal for the Terriers. He falls to 13-7-1.

The two teams will finish their two-game weekend series on Saturday, Jan. 28. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 PM from Agganis Arena. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.


--University of Maine Athletic Department