Amherst-New. 16/14 University of Massachusetts Hockey kept 2-0 after two periods, but the number 5/4 Maine scored twice in the third to finish the contest in a 2-2 tie at the Mullins Center on Saturday. The Black Bears (21-7-6, 13-5-6 he) assumed the additional point in the East Hockey standings with a shooting victory, while the Minutemen finished the regular season at 19-12-5 in general and 10-9-9 in the league action.
“I thought we were very good this weekend against the highest team in the country,” said Greg Carvel, lead coach of Umass. “ I know we left leadership in the third there, but we could probably have two, three or four goals after they tied the game.It is difficult to win two games in this league, you know, when you play on the same opponent twice, and especially a team as good as Maine.I thought our children, as well as they played last night, I thought they made a great effort tonight. The league, and really showed it in this game tonight. “
Sophomore Dans Locmelis put Umass on the board eight minutes to the first. Sophomore Cam O’Neil caused a turnover in the offensive area and pushed the fact ahead of Locmelis. Locmelis came alone to the goalkeeper Albin Boija and put his shot below the netminder for his seventh goal of the season.
Larry Keenan doubled the advantage of Minutemen 1:21 in the second period, going down the bar from the slot of a Locmelis feed and the Sophomore Aydar Suniev along the half wall.
Maine took one of the goals at 5:26 to the third. Frank Djurasevic began to advance the ice from the defensive zone, and Josh Nadeau made a pass by a Umass defender at Lucke Antonacci to end the timely range.
The black bears tied the score 2-2 with Nicholas Niemo, choosing a wrong pass and skating for the end of the right side at 9:47.
After a period of unmatched extension, Niemo and Sully Scholle became the second and third attempt of Maine for victory by 2-0.
The minute ended the night with a 42-23 lead in the shots at the goal and went 0 to 4 in the game of power, while the black bears were 0 by 1.
Michael Hrabal reached 21 savings for Umass, while Boija ended up 40 for Maine.
The Minutemen will start the Hockey East Tournament this Wednesday, March 12, when the squad will host the number 11 of Vermont at the Center Mullins at 7 pm