The University of Maine men’s hockey team ended its seven-game winless streak Saturday afternoon at Alfond Arena, erupting with three second-period goals to defeat the defending three-time Atlantic Hockey Champion American International College 5-1.
The Black Bears completely dominated the game from the first whistle, and after the teams traded half-time goals, UMaine conceded two second-period goals from junior center Lynden Breen and another from Donavan Houle to build up a 4-1 lead.
Freshman defenseman Luke Antonacci added a goal in the third period as O’Maine improved to 3-8-1.
This was the most goals UMaine has scored in a game this season. UMaine scored just 12 goals in their seven-game winless streak.
American International College in Springfield, MA fell to 7-7-3 and snapped its three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1).
“I was proud of the guys,” said UMaine head coach Ben Parr. “The effort was as good as it gets in every game. It’s just that we found a way to get more goals today.”
“It’s been a long time,” Brian said. “We made the effort. We deserved a night like this all season. We won every battle and had both fronts of the net.”
We weren’t very good but credit to Benny Barr and the University of Maine hockey team, said AIC coach Eric Lang. And that was Team Maine tonight.
“I really appreciate how hard the Maine hockey team has worked and that’s a direct reflection of Benny Barr,” added Lang who said the team’s work ethic reminds him of good teams at UMass where Barr was an assistant until coming to UMaine.
UMaine’s Nolan Renwick opened the scoring at the 8:20 mark of the first period, his third goal of the season.
Julius Janunen tied the game 3:13 later, the fourth straight power play goal the Black Bears had allowed after Merrimack took a 3-for-3 lead in their last game two weeks earlier.
Bryen broke the tie at the 1:06 mark of the second half.
Bryan won the rematch to Grayson Arnott on right point. Arnott’s wrist shot was lobbed off the side of Felix Trudeau and then off the back of Brienne before slotting home behind goalkeeper Garrett Fisk.
Breen extended his lead at the 14:31 mark when he cleverly maneuvered from the corner to Fisk’s right and took a low circle wrist shot that went past Fisk, who was being tackled by Ben Poisson.
“My guys (Poisson, Trudeau) have opened up the ice for me, and I’m just trying to get the puck to the net,” said Breen.
Hall only made it 4-1 at 1:20 after that when Killian Kicker-Olson fired the puck near the offensive blue line, and Holley and Mike Mancinelli charged into the area.
Mancinelli hit a shot from the left circle that was blocked by Jarrett Fisk, but Hall beat an AIC defense into the net and took advantage of the rebound.
Antonacchi scored his first collegiate goal with a wrist shot from the right corner off a Diedrick Hinbrandt pass.
Renwick opened the scoring with a wrist shot from the right circle off a Félix Trudeau pass after Renwick had jumped onto the ice at a line change.
Janhonen tied the score by finishing off a beautiful passing sequence involving Blake Bennett and Dustin Manz.
UMaine trails AIC 46-18, including a 22-8 edge in the middle period.
Victor Ostman made 17 saves while Fisk made 33 over two shorts and Brennan Boynton made eight in the third.
Pivotal player: Brien has scored the team’s fifth and sixth goals this season, and now has four goals in his last four matches.
Benefit: This is the kind of game UMaine needs to gain confidence in scoring.
Up next: UMaine visits Vermont for Hockey East games at 7 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday. AIC plays home and home with Bentley on Thursday and Friday nights.