ORONO- Josh Nadeau scored a second period powerplay goal that turned out to be the game winner on Sunday afternoon, as the #5 University of Maine capped off a weekend sweep of Stonehill College 4-2 in non-conference men’s hockey action at the Alfond Arena. The victory extends the Black Bears win streak to five and their unbeaten streak to seven (6-0-1) heading into the holiday break where they won’t return to action for three weeks.
Maine jumped on the board in the first three minutes of play, as freshman forward Thomas Pichette scored his first collegiate goal. Jack Dalton sent a shot on net from the blue line through traffic, that was tipped home by Pichette in the low slot at 2:37.
Stonehill came right back to even the score just over two minutes later, as Teddy Lagerback after a Skyhawks faceoff win in the Black Bears zone sent a one-timer on freshman Patriks Berzins that found the back of the cage at 4:49. Berzins, starting his first career game, caught a bad break on the play as the shot went off the back of one of his defenders in front. The hosts regained the lead for good late in the period, on a play started by defenseman Brandon Chabrier. Chabrier sent a stretch pass from his own blue line to Ross Mitton in the Stonehill zone. Mitton lost control of it off his stick, and it came to Thomas Freel who was trailing the play. Freel skated into the low slot and backhanded one that beat goaltender Connor Androlewicz at 19:16 to put Maine up 2-1. It was the eighth of the season for Freel, but the first one even strength as his previous seven were all on the powerplay.
Nadeau scored his game winner at 4:17 of the second period at the very end of a powerplay opportunity. Sully Scholle from the right circle set up Nadeau, who lasered a one-timer from the high slot into the net with 10 seconds left on the extra man. The sophomore now has a goal in three straight games, and at least a point in five straight.
Berzins didn’t face alot of shots but made two Grade A saves in the middle stanza to keep his team up by two goals, including on a partial breakaway on Jake Cady.
Frank Djurasevic finished the Maine scoring at 7:23 of the third, on another great feed by Scholle. Scholle from below the goal line behind the net spotted Djurasevic with a backhanded pass in the low slot, and the sophomore defenseman got his fourth goal of the season when he hammered it home glove side on Androlewicz.
Stonehill got back within a pair when Frank Ireland tallied off a 2 on 1 breakout off a nice feed from Cady at 13:23. The Skyhawks wouldn’t get any closer though, despite pulling their netminder with 2:21 left.
Scholle led all skaters in points with two assists in the Maine win. Owen Fowler, Nolan Renwick, Nicholas Niemo, Dalton, Mitton, and Chabrier all had one assist each. Berzins made 14 saves, as the Black Bears went 1-4 on the powerplay and won the shots on goal battle 34-16.
Maine head coach Ben Barr postgame
Androlewicz made 30 stops in the loss for 6-14 Stonehill College. Cady, Leo Chambers, Zach Aben, and Dominick Campione each registered an assist. The Skyhawks had just one powerplay chance and went 0-1.
Stonehill coach David Berard postgame
Maine finishes the first part of their schedule at 12-2-2 (5-2-1 in league play), unbeaten since their only two losses at Boston College on November 8 and 10th. The Black Bears next game will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 29th when they take on Bentley University at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.
*Maine notes- The Black Bears finish the first half of the year with a goal differential of +38 (64-26) in their 16 games. Maine is averaging exactly 4.0 goals per contest, holding their opponents to 1.6. The powerplay is operating at 27.8% (20-72), while the opposition is just 7 for 54 (13%) on their extra man opportunities. They also have three shorthanded goals, while not allowing any to their opponents. Senior forward Harrison Scott is the team points leader with 20 (10 goals, 10 assists), while sophomore goalie Albin Boija holds an 11-2-2 record with a 1.53 goals against average, a save percentage of .932, to go along with three shutouts.
Video highlights courtesy of MaineIceHockey on X/Video interviews by Chris Lessner/Photos by Chris Lessner and Anthony DelMonaco
Maine freshman forward Thomas Pichette postgame
Maine freshman goaltender Patriks Berzins postgame
Maine junior forward Thomas Freel postgame
