The University of Maine men’s and women’s ice hockey teams both started two game Hockey East series on the road Friday night. The men are at Vermont and was looking for their first league win, and the women are visiting Boston University.
At Gutterson Fieldhouse in Burlington, Donovan Villeneuve-Houle scored a game winning second period goal as the Maine men’s hockey team won their first Hockey East game with a 3-1 victory over the Vermont Catamounts. The Black Bears controlled play from the start and outshot Vermont 14-4 in the first period, but it was the Catamounts who got on the board first on a powerplay goal from Eric Gotz with eight seconds left in the opening stanza. Reid Pabich scored his first collegiate goal to get Maine even at 1:41 of the second, before the game winner by Villeneuve-Houle at 12:01. Cole Hanson added an empty net tally late in the third period. Victor Ostman made 16 saves in net in the win, as the Black Bears have a two game win streak for the first time this season improving to 4-8-1, 1-5-1 in league play. Gabe Carriere made 38 saves in the loss for Vermont, as the Catamounts drop to 5-10-1, 2-9-0 in Hockey East. The teams finish off their series on Saturday at 5 p.m.
At Agannis Arena in Boston, Lilli Welcke had two goals including the game winner as the Maine women’s hockey team shutout Boston University 3-0. Welcke scored on the powerplay at 3:34 of the second period and that is all the Black Bears needed. Alyssa Wruble also had a goal in the second, and Welcke tallied again late in the third period. Mira Seregely had two assists and Brooklyn Oakes made 19 saves, as Maine improves to 10-10, 7-6 in league play. Andrea Brandli made 25 stops in the loss for the Terriers, who fall to 6-11, 5-8 in Hockey East. The teams will finish their series on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
