Maine Hockey Journal

Maine swept aside by Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Mass. – The University of Maine men’s ice hockey team woke up Sunday morning looking to even the score against rival Boston College, but the Eagles and John Muse once again beat the Black Bears, 4-1, in front of 5,765 at Conte Forum to sweep the two game series.

Freshman goalie Dan Sullivan got the nod in the second game for Maine despite his less the average performance in Friday night’s game.

The Black Bears defense had some big skates to fill with the absence of Jeff Dimmen and Will O’Neill, who were both out with lower body injuries. Picking up the slack for Dimmen was freshman Brice O’Connor, playing alongside Mike Banwell.

Momentum was still on the sticks of the Eagles as forward Paul Carey found a huge rebound off Sullivan’s padding and skate before going into the net while on the power play just 2:02 into the first period.

The play was reviewed to see if there was a kicking motion, but was allowed by the official; although Maine coach Tim Whitehead disagreed.

The official said he was stopping, but I don’t agree with the goal,” he said. “I’ve seen it on tape and he was looking at the puck so I don’t know.”

PHOTO: Matt Booth/MHJ

Maine had 14 shots on Eagles’ goalie John Muse in the first period, but couldn’t sneak on past.

The second period was a back-and-forth battle between both teams with Maine slightly edging the Eagles on the offensive side of the puck.

It was nearly five periods before the Black Bears got one by Muse.

With 12:56 off the clock in the second period, the third defensive pair for Maine evened the score at 1-1 when Mark Nemec, from the blue line, ripped a snap shot over Muse’s blocker. Ryan Hegarty was in on the play with helping his linemate with an assist.

“We thought we did pretty well after our goal,” said Joey Diamond on keeping the pressure on BC after the goal. “We continued to keep putting shots on net.”

But, the Eagles didn’t waste much time in regaining the lead with Needham, Mass native Bill Arnold backhanding a shot over a standing Sullivan to step ahead of the Black Bears, 2-1.

“I didn’t think he had a shot,” said Sullivan on Arnold’s goal. “It was a great play by Arnold.”

Only 20 seconds later, Carey rushed Sullivan knock his second goal of the game to increase the Eagles lead to 3-1.

With the Sullivan pulled, Edwin Shea put the game out of reach, 4-1, with 2:09 to play in the game.
“We came out hard to play,” said Diamond. “We had a few more shots than BC. We just weren’t getting the bounces we normally get.”

Muse made 38 saves for the Eagles in his second win of the weekend. Sullivan stopped 19 shots in the losing effort.

NOTES: The Black Bears will now have a week off before traveling to Providence, R.I. on Dec. 3 to face off against Providence College for a weekend series.

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