The University of Maine football team and men’s ice hockey teams were both in action on Saturday afternoon, with the football team at home for homecoming against Albany and the hockey team on the road at Connecticut.
At Alfond Stadium in Orono, the #24 Maine football team used a strong first half to shut down the visiting Albany Great Danes, and went on for a 28-9 Colonial Athletic Association win on homecoming in front of 9,248 fans.
Quarterback Chris Ferguson hit wide receiver Earnest Edwards on a 77 yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, and later added a short first quarter touchdown run as the Bears broke out to a 21-0 halftime lead and never looked back. The Black Hole defense limited Albany to just seven total offensive yards in the first half, as the Great Danes stayed winless in league play at 0-5 and 2-6 overall.
Ferguson went 21-30 passing, 244 yards, with one touchdown, and one interception. Ramon Jefferson rushes 19 times for 93 yards and a score. Edwards ended with six receptions for 114 yards. Deshawn Stevens had eight total tackles and a sack to lead the defense, while Darrius Hart had seven and an interception. Maine outgained Albany 360-113 in total yardage. Maine improved to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in CAA, and will head on the road to face first place Towson next Saturday at 4 pm.
At Hartford, Connecticut the Maine men’s ice hockey team battled back from a 2-0 deficit at the end of two periods, and ended in a 2-2 tie in Hockey East action.
Alexander Payusov scored both Huskies goals in the second period to stake the hosts to a 2-0 lead. In the third period Maine was able to battle back as Chase Pearson scored a powerplay goal at 13:00, and freshman Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup tied it up with the equalizer with just 1:22 left in the third with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, sending the game to overtime. Neither team could come up with anything in the extra session. Maine is now 2-3-1 overall, 0-1-1 in Hockey East and 0-3-1 in their last four games.
Maine was 1-7 on the powerplay, while both of Payusovs goals came with the extra man and UConn finished 2-9. Jeremy Swayman made 26 saves for the Bears, and Adam Huska made 31 for the Huskies. Maine opens up a two game home Hockey East series at the Alfond with UMass-Lowell next Friday night. Game time is 7 pm Friday and 7:30 Saturday.
