Nault nails first Goal ices Bears’ win

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ESTERO, Fla. – Twos were wild for the University of Maine men’s hockey team at Teco Arena Wednesday.

In the Black Bears’ 4-2 win over Clarkson University in their Everblades College Classic tournament semifinal, Maine attained its second two-game winning streak of the season. And, for the second straight game, a Maine player (Francis Nault) scored his first career goal and it turned out to be the game-winner.

Eric Turgeon got the winner against UMass on Dec. 14.

Freshman defenseman Nault played forward for the second straight game and he was on a line with another converted defenseman, Kevin Clauson. They flanked Robert Liscak, who had a goal and an assist for his second multi-point game of the season.

Maine, now 8-6-4, will face Cornell, a 6-5 overtime victor over Ohio State on Wednesday, in tonight’s championship game at 8.

Marty Kariya had a power-play goal for Maine, which has scored at least one such goal in six of its last seven games, and Dan Kerluke added an empty-netter.

The deuces theme also applied to Clarkson, whose goal-scorers, Mike Nagai and Kevin O’Flaherty, each scored their second goals of the season.

Maine benefited from the return of injured LW Brendan Donovan (lacerated kidney) and defenseman Peter Metcalf (knee), who had each missed the last eight games. And University of Vermont transfer Donny Richardson made his debut.

“It was good to have the whole team back. It helped us out a lot,” said junior goalie Matt Yeats, who made 27 saves and has now compiled a 1.71 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage over his last seven starts.

Maine coach Shawn Walsh said Yeats was “very good” and Liscak provided a big lift for the Bears with his goal and assist.

“He scored our second goal and made a great play to set up the third goal. He also made a subtle play that led to the empty-net goal,” said Walsh. “We got better as the game went along, which I expected because of our layoff. It was a good win to get because the ice conditions were horrible. It was 80 degrees down here today and five teams practiced on it before the game.”

Nagai staked 4-5-3 Clarkson to a 1-0 lead 4:45 into the game, but Kariya’s power-play goal off the rebound of a Metcalf shot tied it and extended Kariya’s point-scoring streak to five games (3 goals, 5 assists).

Liscak put Maine ahead to stay 5:53 into the second period off a Clauson pass.

“Kevin did all the work. He put the pass right on my tape and I put it five-hole from the top of the crease,” said Liscak, who scored for the second straight game.

Liscak fed Nault to make it 3-1 9:04 into the third period.

“Peter [Metcalf] dumped it in and I beat their defenseman to the puck,” said Liscak. “I carried it behind the net and he tried to hit me. I spun around to give myself some room and I saw Francis coming down the slot.”

Nault said, “I got between two of their guys and Robert made a great pass. I shot it low to the blocker side and it went inside the post.”

O’Flaherty jammed home his own rebound just 1:13 later, but Yeats came up with some exceptional saves and the Bears held off Clarkson.

“This was one of my better games this season,” said Yeats. “I felt comfortable the whole time. It was the kind of game I like to play in because I saw lots of shots.”

Metcalf had two assists in his return, and Clarkson goalie Karl Mattson finished with 27 stops.

Cornell advanced to the championship game on David Kozier’s goal 1:38 into the extra session.

The Big Red is now 6-3-2, including a 6-1-2 mark in their last nine games. That includes a 1-1 overtime tie with Maine in Ithaca, N.Y., on Nov. 21.

Cornell is led by sophomore left wing Stephen Baby (4 goals, 8 assists), freshman right wing Ryan Vesce (2 & 8, including three assists vs. Ohio State) and sophomore defenseman Mark McRae (1 & 6). Matt Underhill beat the Buckeyes in net, but Ian Burt (2-2-1 record, 1.74 goals-against average, .917 save percentage) might get the nod against the Bears.

Black Bears 4, Golden Knights 2

Clarkson (4-5-3) X 1 0 1 – 2

Maine (8-6-4) X 1 1 2 – 4

First period – 1. Clarkson, Nagai 2 (Smith, Huskins), 4:45; 2. Maine, Kariya 6 (Dimitrakos, Metcalf), 15:58 (pp). Penalties: Clarkson, Huskins, interference, 7:06; Clarkson, Poapst, high sticking, 12:06; Clarkson, O’Flaherty, boarding, 14:11; Maine, Kariya, interference, 18:05.

Second period – 3. Maine, Liscak 4 (Clauson, Nault), 5:53. Penalties: Clarkson, Manzano, hitting after the whistle, 1:45; Maine, Schutte, hitting after the whistle, 1:45; Maine, Reimann, slashing, 6:39; Maine, Liscak, high sticking, 13:30.

Third period – 4. Maine, Nault 1 (Liscak, Metcalf), 9:04; 5. Clarkson, O’Flaherty 2 (Poapst, Reid), 10:17; 6. Maine, Kerluke 4 (Begg), 19:26 (en). Penalties: Clarkson, Edwards, holding, 14:05.

Shots on goal: Clarkson 8-11-10-29; Maine 14-8-9-31

Goaltenders: Clarkson, Mattson (31 shots-27 saves); Maine, Yeats (29-27)

Power-play Opportunities: Clarkson 0 of 3, Maine 1 of 4