Box Score

UMass Lowell had no answer to the University of Maine power play as the Black Bears ended the River Hawks six-game winning streak with a 4-2 win, Sunday, at the Alfond Arena.

Maine scored three power play goals and added an empty net tally in the final minute.

The loss drops the River Hawks record to 11-5-0 overall and 4-2-0 in Hockey East. Maine is 7-6-1 / 4-2-1.

"It was a good hockey game," said UMass Lowell Head Coach Norm Bazin. "We didn't play our best, but Maine was outstanding."

Maine went 3-for-5 with the man advantaged and built an early lead on the power play. Freshman Cam Brown opened the scoring at the 5:52 mark of the first period with a one-timer from the inner edge of the right face off circle. Brice O'Connor and Eric Schurhamer were credited with assists.

The Black Bears doubled the lead mid way through the period. Ben Hutton found the net as the trailer on a four-on-two break after a River Hawk shorthanded bid. Devin Sore and Connor Leen picked up assists.

The defenseman's goal was his team leading seventh of the season.

Down but not out, UMass Lowell responded with the resilience that has become a trade mark.

Senior Derek Arnold (Foxboro, Mass.) got the River Hawks on the board and cut the lead in half with a backhander over the fallen Maine goalie and into the net. The goal was made possible by a terrific pass by a prone junior Scott Wilson (Oakville, Ont.) who snaked the puck to the front of the net. Wilson and sophomore Gregory Amlong (O'Fallon, Mo.) picked up assists.

UMass Lowell tied the game, at 2-2, on a power play in the waning stages of the second period. Sophomore Ryan McGrath (O'Fallon, Mo.) drilled a shot into the top short-side corner beyond the gloved reach of Maine goalie Martin Ouellette from the right face off circle.

It was a perfectly executed power play goal and came with just :36 secdonds left in the period. Senior Joseph Pendenza (Wilmington, Mass) won the faceoff back to Arnold at the left point. Arnold's diagonal pass found McGrath in shooting position. Pendenza and Arnold got assists.

The goal set the stage for a third period that proved only to be frustrating.

"Our third period was our best," said Bazin, "but we didn't finish our chances. We had opportunities."

The River Hawks did have opportunities, but could not convert as Ouellette repeatedly found a way to get a body part in front of the puck.

Maine's fifth man advantage would prove to be the difference. Freshman Blaine Byron scored from inside the left face off circle on a shot that UMass Lowell netminder sophomore Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce, Mich.) got a leg pad and glove on but could not keep from sliding into the net.

Maine's Jon Swavely added an empty net goal at the 19:04 mark. 4-2.

UMass Lowell heads into the winter final exam/holiday break with eleven wins, one shy of equaling their best first half in the Division I era. The River hawks will be back in action, Saturday, December 28^th when they face Canisius in the opening round of the Catamount Cup in Burlington, Vermont.

Maine hosts American International twice next weekend.