Black Bear forward Steven Swavely (#11), watches as his shot eludes Colgate goalie Charlie Finn for the game winning goal during the third period of their non-conference game Friday night at Alfond Arena. Photo by Anthony Delmonaco.
Orono- The University of Maine Black Bear hockey team is enjoying playing in the home confines of Alfond Arena so far this season. Maine improved to 5-1-1 at home and ended their 4 game winless streak with a 3-1 non-conference victory over visiting Colgate in front of 3,224 fans on Friday night.
Colgate struck first almost halfway through the opening period as Brett Corkey scored at 9:52 to make it 1-0 Raiders. Corkey took a pass from Hunter Racine at the right point and fired a shot through a screen at the blue line that beat Maine goalie Rob McGovern on the glove side.
Coming off a lopsided 7-0 loss to rival UNH their last time out, Maine tied it almost 5 minutes later as Steven Swavely scored his first of the night. Swavely took advantage of a Colgate turnover as a breakout pass hit a defensemans skate and Swavely scooped it up at the top of the left circle and fired a wrist shot pass Colgate goalie Charlie Finn, who was being screened by Will Merchant to make it 1-1.
The pace slowed in the middle period as neither team had any good scoring chances and the game remained tied 1-1 headed to the third period.
Black Bear senior captain Swavely would come through big late in the third period when his team needed him to. Colgate defenseman Kevin Lough under pressure from a forechecking Swavely, would lose the puck off his stick in the faceoff circle to the right of goalie Finn. Swavely would pounce on the chance and break in on Finn. Coming in on his forehand, Swavely switched to his backhand at the edge of the crease and roofed the puck past Finn to make it 2-1 with just 3:39 left.
The Raiders would pull Finn for an extra attacker with just over 2 minutes left in regulation but Cam Brown would score the empty net goal with just 13 seconds remaining to seal the win.
Maine outshot Colgate for the game 33-25 and both teams were 0-3 on the powerplay. Finn finished with 30 saves and Rob McGovern picked up his first collegiate victory in the 24 save performance. Maine improves to 5-11-1 on the season while Colgate slips to 5-14-1. The two teams will battle again Saturday night at 7 p.m.
Scoring summary-
1st- Colgate-Corkey (Racine) 9:52
1st- Maine-Swavely (unassisted) 14:33
3rd- Maine-Swavely (unassisted) 16:21
3rd- Maine-Brown(empty net, unassisted) 19:47
Shots On Goal
Colgate 10 6 9- 25
Maine 8 9 16- 33
Powerplay- Colgate 0-3, Maine 0-3
