Cole Hanson scored 2:40 into overtime on Saturday evening, as the Maine Black Bears men’s ice hockey team swept a two game non-conference series with a 4-3 win over the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves at Alfond Arena in Orono.
Luke Antonacci scored 4:10 into the first period to give Maine the early lead, but Alaska-Anchorage got goals from Ben Almquist on the powerplay at 5:41 and then an even strength marker from Almquist at 17:40 to take a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. Michael Mancinelli got the lone tally of the second at 2:58 for the Black Bears to even the score 2-2. Ben Poisson gave the hosts the lead back at 15:54 of the third period, but the Seawolves made it 3-3 when Jarred White scored 1:34 later. The game winner in overtime came on a breakaway by Hanson, who was stopped on the first attempt but stayed with it and shoveled his own rebound past Alaska-Anchorage goaltender Jared Whale to end it.
Hanson and Poisson both had a goal and an assist in the win, as Maine improves to 8-9-2. Victor Ostman made 17 saves. Whale made 40 stops in the loss for Alaska-Anchorage, who falls to 4-14. The Black Bears had beaten the Seawolves 1-0 on Friday night on a goal with 20 seconds left in the third period by Thomas Freel. Maine will now be in Hockey East action for the rest of the regular season, as they try to improve on their 2-5-1 league mark by hosting #17 UMass-Lowell at the Alfond next Friday and Saturday night.
At Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts on Thursday and Friday night the Maine women’s hockey team was beaten twice by the Boston College Eagles by identical 4-1 scores in Hockey East play.
The Black Bears scored twice both nights, as Luisa Welcke had the first tally on Thursday and Mira Seregely on Friday. Abby Newhook had the game winner for the Eagles on Thursday, and Hannah Bilka on Friday both in the second period. Kennedy Little had one assist in the two games, Lilli Welckehad had two, and Alyssa Wruble also added a helper for Maine who falls to 11-12 on the season and 8-8 in Hockey East. Brooklyn Oakes made 24 saves in game one, while in game two the tandem of netminders shared time as Jorden Mattison made 13 saves in 40 minutes and Oakes made nine stops in the final period. The Black Bears play at UNH next Friday night, and then at Northeastern on Saturday afternoon.
Recaps by Chris Lessner
