The University of Maine men’s ice hockey team got a goal in each of the first two periods, and then held off the Boston College Eagles for a 2-1 Hockey East win Friday night at Alfond Arena.
Mitch Fossier put Maine up 1-0 on a 4 on 4 goal at the 13:53 mark of the first. Fossier took control of a loose puck and a turnover forced by Chase Pearson, and fired a shot near the faceoff circle that beat BC goalie Joe Woll blocker side.
Maine doubled the lead at 6:52 of the second. A point shot by Keith Muehlbauer didn’t get all the way to the net, and Eduards Tralmaks skated in and fired a shot that beat Woll pad side to make it 2-0.
Boston College (10-17-3, 9-8-3 Hockey East) got a late third period goal by Aapeli Rasanen on the powerplay with goalie Woll pulled at 18:27. The Eagles however couldn’t come up with the equalizer with the goalie still on the bench for the extra attacker in the last minute.
Maine goalie Jeremy Swayman earned the win with 31 saves, including a second period breakaway and one in the last 20 seconds of the game to preserve it. Woll made 22 stops in the loss. Maine was 0-2 on the powerplay, while BC went 1-4. Pearson assisted on both Black Bear goals.
Maine improves to 13-14-4 overall and 9-8-4 in Hockey East. The Bears are now in a fifth place tie in the league with Boston University, who pulled out a 1-0 overtime win at Vermont Friday night. Maine goes for the two game weekend sweep Saturday night at 7:30 pm.
