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Senior forward Spencer Abbott finished the weekend with five goals and four assists while picking up his 100th career point in the University of Maine men’s hockey team’s weekend sweep of the University of Vermont, bringing their unbeaten streak to five.
The Black Bears move their record back to .500 at 6-6-2 and 5-5-1 in Hockey East. The Catamounts remain in the cellar of Hockey East at 1-8-1 and 3-10-1 overall.
UMaine came from behind on two separate occasions Friday night to beat the Catamounts 6-4, where Abbott picked up a hat trick.
Vermont sophomore forward Connor Brickley got the scoring started 8 minutes into the game with his team-leading seventh goal of the season.
With just over 5 minutes left in the first period, UMaine senior center Brian Flynn tied things up with a one-timer off a pass from Abbott. Junior defender Nick Pryor also assisted on the play.
Abbott ended up on the other end of the scoring connection just a minute later, putting in a rebound for his 100th career point and giving the Black Bears the 2-1 lead entering the first intermission. Senior defender Will O’Neill had the initial shot and Flynn also picked up an assist.
The Catamounts answered back early in the second period, with Brickley jump-starting a breakaway for sophomore forward H.T. Lenz, who beat sophomore goalie Dan Sullivan.
The Catamounts reclaimed the lead later in the second period with a power-play goal. After O’Neill was booked for cross-checking, senior defender Drew MacKenzie beat Sullivan for the Catamounts’ third goal of the night, taking the lead into the final period.
Midway through the third period, the Black Bears came storming back with two goals 24 seconds apart. Sophomore forward Mark Anthoine scored his third goal of the season off assists by Pryor and junior center Kyle Beattie.
Abbott quickly followed that up with his second goal of the game, giving UMaine the 4-3 lead. O’Neill and Flynn both picked up their second of three assists on the goal.
Three minutes later, Abbott completed the hat trick, receiving the puck at the far post and beating senior goalie Rob Madore.
UMaine junior forward Joey Diamond chimed in on the scoring with less than 6 minutes remaining in the game, giving the Black Bears a 6-3 lead. Vermont scored in the last second to end the series opener 6-4 for the Black Bears.
Unlike Friday’s game, the Black Bears jumped out to the lead against Vermont midway through the first period of Saturday’s game and never looked back, picking up the 5-2 win.
Junior forward Matt Mangene fired a shot toward Vermont senior goalie John Vazzano, which was tipped in en route by Diamond for the first goal of the game. It was the seventh straight game Diamond has registered a point, a career high.
With just over 5 minutes remaining in the opening period, the Black Bears doubled their lead when Diamond led a two-on-one, eventually beating Vazzano for his second goal of the game.
Early in the second period, Abbott grabbed his fourth goal of the weekend off a rebound. Diamond fired the initial shot, and he and Flynn each picked up an assist.
UMaine made it 4-0 with just over 6 minutes remaining in the second period on Abbott’s second goal of the game. After a beautiful pass by O’Neill to Abbott at the blue line, the Ontario native found some space and fired the shot past Vazzano.
The Black Bears completed their fistful of goals early in the third period, as Mangene continued his scoring barrage after moving to the front line. Flynn and Abbott each picked up their second assist of the game on the goal.
Brickley got the Catamounts on the board early in the third period while on the penalty kill. Sullivan saved the initial shot but couldn’t stop the puck from dribbling into the net.
A goal in the final minute brought the game to 5-2, with the Black Bears posting their highest-scoring weekend of the season.
The Black Bears’ first line compiled 24 points over the weekend, while going 5-8 on the power play.
The Black Bears have one more game before the holiday break, hosting Boston University this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on CBS College Sports Network.
