Sports |

UMaine earns split in Bay State

By Matthew Conyers

Posted on Monday, November 1st, 2004, 12:00 am

With the conclusion of Sunday’s duel with Boston University, the University of Maine men’s ice hockey team once again left the weekend with mixed feelings.

The Black Bears opened Hockey East conference competition on Friday with a decisive 3-0 victory over Merrimack. However, the weekend ended with disappointment when the Black Bears were dealt a 2-1 defeat at the hands of a young and talented BU squad.

The games marked the second consecutive week the Black Bears have merited a split against opponents. With the outcomes, UMaine moved to 5-4-0 on the season and 1-1-0 in Hockey East play.

Both decisions, however, displayed newly-found scoring weapon John Ronan. The Black Bears’ current pillar of leadership was able to pilfer both opponents’ nets during the road trip contributing three goals on the weekend. Along with Ronan’s strong performances, Jimmy Howard once again confirmed his presence as one of the best goaltenders in the country. Friday’s victory marked his tenth career shutout and first of the year. After the BU game, UMaine head coach Tim Whitehead took time to discuss his star goalie’s performance.

“Jimmy is coming along and getting better each week,” said Whitehead. “He is giving us a chance to win.”

The terriers were able to find the net first in the opening period when talented Peter MacArthur pounced on an open rebound out front. MacArthur proceeded to find the back net after slipping the puck past Howard’s left side. MacArthur was assisted on the play by heralded freshman Chris Borque. The goal came across at 7:18 in the period.

UMaine was able to respond shortly after when Ben Murphy fired a low shot on netminder John Curry, who left a wide open rebound for Ronan. The senior captain hammered home the rebound at 10:15 of the period for the Black Bears’ lone goal.

UMaine left the first period with a slight 15-11 advantage in the shot department.

The start of the second period marked much of the same with both goalies exchanging fine saves. The Terriers were able to break the stalemate on the powerplay when Brian McConnell sent a wrist shot by Jimmy Howard. The goal, which came at 5:24 of the second, was assisted by David Van Der Gulik and Bryan Miller. McConnell’s tally ended 17 straight power plays killed by the Black Bears. UMaine’s best chance in the period came with 1:50 remaining, when Brent Sepheard sent a shot in on Curry from high in the slot that flew past the right post. At the end of the period, sophomore Mike Hamilton was called for a five-minute penalty, which merited a game disqualification.

UMaine headed to the locker room besting the Terriers 10-8 on the period.

Tempers continued to rise when Keith Johnson was delivered a crushing check from BU’s Kenny Roche. Roche was handed a five-mintue major and a game disqualification for the play. With the play coming at 18:08 of the period, the Black Bears got an earlier opportunity to even up the score. The Terriers proceeded to shut down the Black Bears powerplay. BU continued to stall the UMaine attack for the rest of match en route to the victory. After the game, Whitehead discussed BU’s performance.

“This was a great win for Boston University,” said Whitehead. “Their goalie rose to the occasion today. We had too many penalties to win the game. That was the bottom line against BU.”

Whitehead also touched on his team’s overall display on the ice.

“Our discipline must be better; and it was not acceptable today,” said Whitehead.

In net for UMaine Howard recorded 30 saves, while Curry posted 25 on the day. On the powerplays, UMaine was 0-2, and BU was 1-6. UMaine outshot BU 32-26 in the decision.

Friday’s match saw the Black Bears pick up the victory in hostile Lawler Arena against an underrated Merrimack squad. In the victory, the Black Bears were led by Jankus, who tallied two goals including an unassisted a goal as time expired in the second period. Whitehead believed the squad overall played a complete game.

“We played real well from start to finish tonight,” said Whitehead. “We played hard and smart, which is what we need to do.”

The Black Bears were able to tally the first goal against the Warriors when Billy Ryan was sent a perfect pass from Ronan and Murphy. The three players, who all hail from the land of the Mass. Pike, scored the tally at 5:28. Ryan sent the shot over the glove of Merrimack’s Jim Healy for the score. UMaine concluded the period with a slight 7-6 lead in shots.

In the second period, UMaine opened up the scoring when Jeff Mushaluk rifled a shot on net that was quickly deflected by Jankus at 1:29 of the period. Troy Barnes recorded an assist on the play. Both defenses highlighted the rest of the play until Jankus found the net at the buzzer. The goal marked the fifth time this season the Black Bears have pounded the twine with less than six seconds remaining in a period. After the game, Whitehead talked about the pairings with the lines.

“I liked the lines tonight, and the defensive pairings were strong,” said Whitehead.

Both squads went scoreless in the third period ensuring the Black Bears their first Hockey East victory of the season.

UMaine’s Howard, with the shutout, hauled in 21 saves. For the Warriors, Healy record 30 saves. The Black Bears carried the advantage in the shot department with a 33-21 advantage. Both teams finished the match scoreless on the powerplay.

UMaine continues Hockey East Play this weekend with a pivotal duel against potential No. 1 powerhouse Boston College on Friday at 7 p.m. The excitement will continue Sunday when hated rival University of New Hampshire arrives in town Sunday.