Orono, Maine — Maine picked up its first victory of the year Friday night against a familiar foe in No. 20 Alaska-Anchorage.
Eric Schurhamer’s first goal of the season was a big one, snapping a 1-1 tie with 4:02 left in the third.
Cam Brown added a shorthanded, empty-net goal as Maine beat the Seawolves 3-1 at Alfond Arena.
Austin Coldwell put Alaska on the board midway through the first period on the power play. Maine scored the equalizer just 46 seconds later when Cedric Lacroix connected with Jake Rutt. The defensemen sent a shot through traffic that found the back of the net to tie the score 1-1.
The score held until Schurhamer’s goal midway through the third. Liam Pecararo took the initial shot on UAA goalie Olivier Mantha and Steven Swavely attempted to send home the rebound. The puck was free in the crease when Schurhamer fired it into the back of the net to put the Black Bears up 2-1.
“The puck was sitting there and their goalie couldn’t find it,” said Schurhamer. “He was looking to his left and it was under him. So I poked it with one hand.”
Maine coach Red Gendron was once against pleased with his team’s penalty kill. The Black Bears killed off five of six UAA power-play chances, including one in the final two minutes.
“It was a very good team win, but we have to get better,” Gendron said. “[Goaltender] Matt Morris was terrific.”
“I liked the way we played,” added Alaska coach Matt Thomas. “Olivier was phenomenal and their goalie played very well.”
Morris finished with 33 saves, while Mantha was just as solid, stopping 37 shots.
The win allowed Maine to even the table after suffering a 3-1 loss to UAA in the season opener during the Kendall Hockey Classic in Anchorage.
Maine outshot Alaska-Anchorage 40-34 and improves to 1-4-0. The Seawolves drop to 3-1-1.
