ORONO- Max Scott scored 33 seconds into overtime on Saturday night, as the #10 Maine men’s hockey team rallied back to earn a homecoming weekend non-conference split with a 3-2 victory over Colgate University at Alfond Arena.
Despite playing a good first period with plenty of energy, it didn’t start well on the scoreboard for the Black Bears. Jack Brandt scored his fourth and fifth goals of the season for the Raiders at 10:15 and 15:48. The first one was on the powerplay tipping one home in the low slot off a feed from Isaiah Norlin, while his second of the opening frame was set up on a pass from Ryan Sullivan from behind the net into the low slot to make it 2-0 and totally taking the crowd out of the game. Sullivan would get an assist on each goal.
Maine used some carryover powerplay time to get on the board early in the second period. Brandon Holt from the top of the point located Thomas Freel in the right faceoff circle. Freel released a quick shot with some traffic in front that beat Colgate goalie Andrew Takacs at 1:06 to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Black Bears got a fortunate bounce in the third period that would eventually send the game into overtime. Andrew Peterson took a hard hit near the left wing boards at center ice in dumping the puck deep into the Raiders defensive zone. The puck deflected off the end boards in behind the Colgate net and was loose in the high slot. Justin Poirier was johnny on the spot in hustling to get it to it first, deeking around Takacs and tucking it into a half empty net for his fifth goal of the season at 2:08 to tie things at 2-2.
In the 3 on 3 extra session, the Black Bears never let the Raiders have possession of the puck as they finished off the comeback victory. Charlie Russell made a key play on the winner, shielding a Colgate defender who had lost his stick. The puck would come to Scott who went right to the net into the right faceoff dot in releasing a wristshot that just squeezed through Takacs five-hole to end it and sending the Alfond crowd into a delirium. It was the first career goal as a Black Bear for the junior Scott, who transferred from Brown in the offseason.
Poirier had a goal and an assist in the Maine win, while Holt had two assists. Holt, the senior defenseman and one of the team captains, had four points on the weekend (all assists). Peterson and Russell also had one assist each. Albin Boija made 17 saves in net, as the Black Bears went 1-4 on the powerplay. Brandt had both goals, and Norlin along with Sullivan had two assists a piece in the losing cause for Colgate who falls to 2-3-1. Takacs made 31 stops in the cage, while the Raiders out of the ECAC went 1-6 on their powerplay opportunities. Maine (3-2-1), who snaps their three game winless streak (0-2-1), will now begin an 11-game stretch in Hockey East play when they host Boston University next Friday and Saturday. The scheduled time for puck-drop is 7:30 p.m. on both nights.
Photos by Anthony DelMonaco and Chris Lessner
