University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Maine *
Maine Skates Past UMass 4-1
October 28, 2006 | Hockey
Oct. 28, 2006
ORONO, Maine - UMass (2-1-1, 1-1-0 Hockey East) fell to No. 1 Maine (6-0-0, 1-0-0 HEA) on Saturday night by the score of 4-1. The teams were tied 1-1 late into the third before the Black Bears went up by one and added a pair of empty netters. The Minutemen return to action next weekend with a home and home series against Providence. Friday's game will be played in Amherst.
Maine broke open the scoring with a breakaway goal at 16:46 of the first. Michele Léveillé skated in alone from the blueline and beat Jon Quick high for his fifth of the season, assisted by Josh Soares and Teddy Purcell. That was the lone goal of the period, and the Black Bears held a 9-3 advantage in shots.
Stormy weather caused a temporary power outage at Alfond Arena with 7:51 remaining in the middle stanza. The ice was resurfaced and the teams retired to their dressing rooms while the generator kicked in. Hockey East supervisor of officials Richard DeCaprio determined that 17:51 of hockey would then be played before the ice was again resurfaced with 10 minutes remaining in the contest.
The Minutemen capitalized on the break, scoring on the power play at 4:41 with three rookies factoring in on the play. Defensemen Martin Nolet and Justin Braun passed the puck up on the blueline before Nolet's pass up to Will Ortiz at the top of the far faceoff circle. Ortiz' shot beat Ben Bishop on the glove side to even things up at one apiece. The goal was Ortiz' first of his collegiate career, as was Nolet's helper. Braun's assist was his second in as many games.
Bret Tyler scored the eventual gamewinner on a wraparound with 4:36 left in the game, assisted by Billy Ryan. Maine's Wes Clark and Léveillé added empty netters with 38 and 10 seconds left, respectively, for the 4-1 final.
Overall, shots were 28-17 in favor of the home team. UMass was 1-4 on the power play and held Maine scoreless on three man advantage opportunities.
