PORTLAND- The Bentley University Falcons scored the first two goals of the game, and would then hold on adding an empty netter late in the third period for a 4-2 upset of the #4 Maine Black Bears in non-conference men’s hockey action before a crowd of 5,893 at the Cross Insurance Arena on Sunday evening.
A Maine turnover in their own zone allowed Bentley to get off to a good start. Oliver Salo was the beneficiary on a rebound in front, after a shot by Oskar Bakkevig hit the crossbar for his second goal of the season at 1:42 of the first period. Bakkevig was whistled for a contact to the head five minute major penalty and a game misconduct at 12:10 of the opening stanza, giving the Black Bears a good opportunity to get some offense going. During that five minute powerplay, a loose puck in front of the net looked like it was knocked home by Brandon Holt to tie it. The referee waved off the goal, before a video review revealed the call was reversed and the goal stood. Bentley then challenged for goaltender interference, and the goal was waved off for a second time to keep the score 1-0 Falcons after one period.
On the first powerplay for Bentley early in the second period, a clean faceoff win and a shot from the point by Nick Bochen was tipped home by Ethan Leyh to make it 2-0 at 3:51. Scott would pick up his first goal of the evening on the powerplay for Maine at 10:20 to cut it to 2-1 on a one-timer from the right faceoff circle set up by Holt, who had returned from injury to get into the lineup for the first time since November 22. Charlie Russell also picked up a helper on the play.
The Falcons would push their lead back to a pair on a beautiful passing play by Tanner Main and Ryan Upson for a one-timer by former Black Bear Sam Duerr who roofed a wristshot past Albin Boija to make it 3-1 at 17:51. Duerr never scored a goal in his 32 games at Maine, and now has 12 with Bentley including seven this season.
Maine continued to try to push back in the third period, getting two more powerplays at 1:03 and 8:30. The Black Bears couldn’t convert on either one however, finishing just 1-6 on the extra man in the game. Taylor Makar took a penalty at 10:30, but that is when Nolan Renwick and Scott came up with a big play shorthanded to get their team back in the game and get the fans at the Cross Insurance Arena off their hands and back onto their feet. Renwick picked off a pass at his own blue line, and broke out with Scott 2 on 1. Renwick held it until he got to the top of the right faceoff circle, sending a saucer pass across to Scott who batted it out of mid-air and directed into the back of the net from the left circle past Bentley junior goaltender Connor Hasley at 11:36 to make it 3-2.
Despite the desparity in shots attempted and shots on goal, Maine still found themselves down a goal in the final couple minutes. The Black Bears pulled Boija with 2:19 remaining, and nearly would tie it up in the waining seconds. Josh Nadeau got a tape to tape pass from Scott in the right circle and hammered a quick shot that beat Hasley glove side, but had it hit off the post with 18 seconds left and just eight seconds later Jimmy Doyle capped the upset win for Bentley by sending one the length of the ice and into the empty net.
Scott, the former Bentley Falcon who entered the day tied for third in the country in goals scored, had both of his teams markers (11,12) in the loss for Maine. Holt, Russell, and Renwick had one assist a piece. Boija made 15 saves, as the Black Bears outshot Bentley 45-19. The loss snaps a five game win streak and a seven game unbeaten streak as well, losing in regulation for the first time since November 10 at Boston College. Maine had a 92-33 edge in shots attempted, but Bentley blocked 27 of them and 20 were off target. Hasley made a career-high 43 stops for the Falcons, who improved their record to 11-5-2. Bentley, who plays out of Atlantic Hockey America, went 1-2 on the powerplay and also records their first ever win over a top five team in program history. Maine drops to 12-3-2, and returns to Alfond Arena for a big time matchup with defending national champion Denver for their final non-conference games of the season. Puck drop from Orono is 6 p.m. Friday and 6:30 on Saturday.
Videos by Maine Ice Hockey on X and Chris Lessner, postgame video interviews by Chris Lessner
