The University of Maine men's hockey team fought valiantly to secure a narrow 2-1 victory against Quinnipiac at a packed Alfond Arena, showcasing skill and determination in a matchup of nationally ranked teams. UMaine, currently holding the ninth and tenth positions in two national polls, proved their mettle against a talented Quinnipiac squad, ranked seventh and eighth. The match saw early dominance from the Black Bears, with senior center Nolan Renwick netting his third goal of the season just 6:42 into the first period. Sophomore Charlie Russell, a transfer from Clarkson University, extended the lead before the period ended, marking his first collegiate goal.
For Quinnipiac, freshman Tyler Borgula found the net during a power play in the late second period, scoring his first career goal and intensifying the contest. The Black Bears' goalie, Albin Boija, demonstrated impressive form by making 19 crucial saves, effectively countering efforts from Quinnipiac, whose goaltender Dylan Silverstein also performed admirably with 27 stops. In a tense final play, the Bobcats gained a 6-on-4 advantage when they pulled their goalie while UMaine was penalized. Despite the pressure, UMaine's penalty-killing unit excelled, limiting Quinnipiac to just two shots which Boija successfully saved.
UMaine's defense shone brightly, particularly in the initial period, thwarting three power plays and maintaining pressure on Quinnipiac's offense, allowing just four shots during these opportunities. Renwick’s goal came after a slick play initiated by Taylor Makar's agile pass, leading to a two-on-one break with Ross Mitton. Renwick finished the play with a shot into the far corner, capitalizing on the situation effectively. Meanwhile, Russell’s goal resulted from a pass by Harrison Scott. Scott maintained puck control along the boards and sent it toward the net, where it deflected off Silverstein’s pads, allowing Russell to seize the opportunity from the low slot.
Despite offensive pushes from both teams throughout the second period, including a near score by Quinnipiac on a two-on-zero break, Boija was alert, nullifying the threat by reading Mason Marcellus's pass to Borgula expertly. Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold acknowledged the talents of both goalies, remarking that they were perhaps the standout players on the rink that night. Borgula's power-play goal highlighted his excellent coordination and timing from a well-executed diagonal cross-ice pass by Davis Pennington to beat Boija.
UMaine’s head coach Ben Barr praised his team’s composure and improvement as the game progressed. The Black Bears were dominant in the third period, outshooting Quinnipiac and capitalizing on their offensive zone possession — an area they struggled with earlier due to penalty troubles. Barr recognized the challenge posed by Quinnipiac, commenting on the competitive nature of the game which, despite its difficulties, showed his team's growing prowess. Similarly, Coach Pecknold credited UMaine, acknowledging their hard effort and recognizing the synergy that led to their triumph.
