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University of Maine men’s hockey junior captain Tanner House scored a pair of power play goals in his return to the lineup after missing the first two weeks of the season with a leg injury, but the Black Bears struggled in a pair of road losses at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of New Hampshire this weekend.
UMaine fell to 1-5-0 (0-2-0 Hockey East), while UMass remained undefeated and UNH won its second straight game after starting the season 0-2-1. The Black Bears will return home to Alfond Arena on Friday night to host the University of Vermont Catamounts at 7 p.m.
In Friday’s game at the Mullins Center, UMass went 3-for-8 on the power play, while UMaine was just 1-for-3 and the Minutemen held on for a 5-3 win.
Junior forward James Marcou had one of UMass’ three goals with the man advantage and added three assists. He leads the Minutemen with 8 points.
UMass jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first eight minutes of the game on a power play goal from sophomore forward Casey Wellman and an even strength tally by senior defenseman Martin Nolet.
UMaine freshman wing Adam Shemansky scored his third goal in five career games at 13:33 of the opening period to bring the game back within one goal, but Marcou responded 3:35 before the first intermission.
UMaine sophomore defenseman Will O’Neill notched his first goal of the season 10:59 into the second period, assisted by sophomore wings Brian Flynn and Gustav Nyquist. Flynn and Nyquist also set up House’s goal with 1:02 left in the third, but only after UMass sophomores Michael Marcou and T. J. Syner added to the scoring margin with third period even strength and power play goals, respectively.
Each team recorded 29 shots on goal. UMass junior goaltender Paul Dainton made 26 saves to earn the win (3-0). UMaine sophomore goalie Scott Darling took the loss (1-2) after allowing three first period goals. Freshman Shawn Sirman made his collegiate debut between the pipes, playing the final two periods.
Saturday’s weekend finale at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H., saw a 1-0 UMaine lead midway through the first period erased with four straight UNH goals.
House’s second goal of the weekend opened the scoring 9:23 into the first frame. An answering goal 17 seconds later by UNH junior forward Greg Manz was followed by a pair of even strength second period goals from sophomore forward Stevie Moses and a Mike Borisenok power play tally before the second intermission.
O’Neill added his second goal of the weekend midway through the third, but the Wildcats sealed the deal with an empty net goal with just over a minute remaining. Nyquist contributed his fourth assist of the weekend on O’Neill’s goal. He leads the Black Bears with 10 points.
UNH senior goalie Brian Foster made 22 saves in the win (2-2-1). Darling and Sirman once again split time in net, this time Sirman making the start and taking the loss (0-1). Sirman allowed UNH’s first four goals, before Darling entered for the third period.
