Despite 44 saves from goaltender Jeremy Swayman, the Maine men’s ice hockey team fell short Saturday night in the second game of a Hockey East series falling 1-0 to UMass-Lowell at Alfond Arena in Orono splitting the weekend series.
UML (4-4, 1-2 Hockey East) carried play most of the night, and got a goal from Sam Knoblauch 5:32 into the third period that provided the difference. Swayman kept Maine in the game, making 32 saves over the first two periods to keep the game scoreless including 16 of those shots on Riverhawk power plays. The Black Bears best chance was later in the third period down 1-0, when Ryan Smith centered one for Mitch Fossier who one timed the pass but UML Chris Hernberg slid over and stopped the attempt.
Hernberg made 24 saves for the shutout win. Neither team could convert on the powerplay, as Maine was 0-6 and Lowell was 0-7. The Black Bears drop to 3-4-1, 1-2-1 in Hockey East with the loss, losing their first game at home this season. UML is now 4-4, 1-2.
Maine has a week off before hitting the road to battle Boston University Friday, Nov 16 and Saturday night, Nov 17. Faceoff scheduled for 7:30 pm Friday, and 7 pm Saturday at Agannis Arena in Boston.
