The University of Maine’s fifth-ranked hockey team erupted for four third-period goals en route to a 6-0 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at the Houston Field House in Troy, NY on Saturday afternoon.
Graduate student center and co-captain Lynden Breen had a hat trick and an assist to lead the way but he sustained a lower body injury in the third period and had to leave the game.
Sophomore right wing Charlie Russell, senior center Harrison Scott and sophomore defenseman Frank Djurasevic had the other Black Bear goals and sophomore goalie Albin Boija made 16 saves in posting his third shutout of the season.
UMaine improved to 9-2-2 overall and will take a four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) into Sunday’s 3 p.m. series finale.
RPI fell to 5-5-1.
Russell scored what proved to be the game-winner 9:37 into the game, his fourth goal of the season, as he beat graduate student goaltender Noah Giesbrecht with a backhander from the bottom of the right faceoff circle.
Owen Fowler and Breen assisted on the play.
Breen scored his third of the season 25 seconds into the middle period when he took a short pass from Fowler and roofed a backhander from 12 feet out.
Breen added his second and third goals 1:55 apart early in the third period with the second coming on the power play.
Scott and Djurasevic also scored on the power play to sew up the win. Scott’s goal was his seventh and Djurasevic notched his third.
RIP’s Giesbrecht made 38 saves on 44 shots before Carsonm Dorfman replaced him and stopped all six shots he faced.
UMaine outshot RPI 50-16.
Russell and Djurasevic each had an assist to go with their goals and Josh Nadeau, Sully Scholle and Fowler had two assists apiece.
