On Saturday, Mar. 7, the University of Maine Black Bears men’s hockey team wrapped up its regular season with an away game at the University of Vermont. It was the team’s only game of the weekend.
This game was like a coin flip compared to last weekend’s sweep against the Northeastern Huskies.
The UVM Catamounts played a strong 60 minutes heading into the second period leading 2-0. The first goal was scored by fourth-year forward Thomas Sinclair, assisted by third-year forward Daniel Sambucco and fourth-year defenseman Xavier Henry at 4:01 of the first period. 14 minutes later, UVM had their second goal scored at 18:01 by first-year forward Cedrick Guindon, assisted by second-year forwards Colin Kessler and Ethan Burroughs.
The second period picked up for the Black Bears. The team was able to get two on the board. Maine’s first goal was scored at 0:59 into the second by third-year forward Josh Nadeau, assisted by fourth-year defenseman Brandon Holt. With this goal, the Black Bears were able to cut the lead in half. Unfortunately, UVM would answer back with a goal scored about 16 minutes after. This would bring their lead up 3-1.
Maine would go to score again at the tail end of the 2nd period to split the score in half once again. This goal was scored by first-year forward Miguel Marques, assisted by first-year forward Jaden Lipinski and first year defenseman Loic Usereau.
To start the third, the game would be set at 3-2. This game would not stay at one goal as UVM upped the lead to make it 4-2 at 6:03 of the third. The game was very back and forth with goals being answered from both sides.
Maine answered the call to make the game 4-3 at 18:05 of the last 20 minutes of play. This goal was scored by third-year forward Owen Fowler assisted by Holt and Marques, who were already able to gain points in this game.
The Black Bears would pull first-year goalie Mathis Rousseau for the last minute of play, and that was when the Catamounts answered and made the game 5-3. Kessler netted his second of the night for UVM off the empty-netter at 19:40, assisted by Guindon and fourth-year defenseman Philip Törnqvist.
With this loss, the Black Bears moved to 18-13-3, while the Catamounts would move to 13-20-1. While this may not have been the expected outcome, this game was full of excitement. Shots on goal were tied 26-26 for both teams. Rousseau made 21 saves on the shots he faced tonight before being pulled.
Coming off of a sweep weekend, this was not the outcome the team had hoped for to end their season. Despite the loss, UMaine has still clinched a playoff spot and will be playing the Boston College Eagles on Friday, Mar. 13 at 7 p.m. This game will be played down in Cambridge at Conte Forum, the home rink for the Eagles.
