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