Patrick Shea tipped home a Patrick Holway point shot 20 seconds into overtime Friday night, as the Maine Black Bears beat the Merrimack College Warriors 4-3 at Alfond Arena in Hockey East men’s ice hockey action.
Brendan Robbins had his first career hat trick for the other three goals, scoring even strength, on a penalty shot, and a shorthanded goal late in the second period that had given Maine a 3-2 lead.
Merrimack (7-16-4, 4-12-2 Hockey East) got goals from Marc Biega and Brett Seney in the middle period, and then the game tying goal from Ludvig Larsson with just 1:29 left in the game with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker.
Jeremy Swayman made 36 saves in the Maine net, while Craig Pantano made 24 saves in the loss for Merrimack. Merrimack was 1-5 with the powerplay, while Maine was 0-3. The Black Bears are now 15-9-4, 9-6-3 in Hockey East, and also unbeaten in six games (4-0-2).
The two teams will finish off the two game series Saturday night at 7 p.m.
In women’s action earlier Friday, the Maine Black Bears and UNH Wildcats ended in a 2-2 tie at the Alfond in a Hockey East tilt.
Julia Fedeski put UNH up 1-0 in first with a powerplay goal, before a goal from Ebba Strandberg and a powerplay marker from Alyson Matteau gave Maine a 2-1 lead.
Amy Schlagel scored the equalizer on the powerplay four minutes into the third period for UNH to make it 2-2, and that’s the way it ended. Carly Jackson made 15 saves in the Maine net, while Ava Boutilier made 23 stops for UNH. Maine is now 16-9-4, 10-6-3 in Hockey East. UNH is 13-10-7, 8-7-5.
The two teams battle again Saturday at 2 p.m. in the series finale.
