Bears come out firing, top BC

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ORONO – A University of Maine men’s hockey team desperately in need of wins played with a sense of urgency that matched its predicament.

First-period goals by Josh Soares, Michel Leveille, and Derek Damon proved to be all the offense Maine would need as the Black Bears knocked off Hockey East leader Boston College 4-1 at the Alfond Arena Friday night.

Maine improved to 20-10-1 overall, 13-8-1 in Hockey East. Maine is now 6-1-1 in its last eight games.

Boston College fell to 19-8-2, 16-5-1 in Hockey East. BC is 3-4 in its last seven.

The two teams will play again tonight at 7.

Stephen Gionta scored BC’s only goal in the second period, but Billy Ryan iced it with an empty-net goal.

The Bears thoroughly outplayed the Eagles in all three zones in the first period and were rewarded with the 3-0 lead.

“We came out flying and we kept on them all game,” said Soares. “They’re a real quick team, so we had to get on them, not give them any space, and clog up the neutral zone. We got the puck deep and hit their defensemen.”

BC senior defenseman and captain Peter Harrold said, “They were all over us in the first period and we didn’t respond. We left our goalie [Cory Schneider] out to dry.”

Soares opened the scoring at the 6:42 mark as he collected Maine’s second shorthanded goal of the season.

Leveille made it 2-0 at the 14:30 mark, and Damon’s 12th goal of the season came 57 seconds later.

Maine outshot BC 17-3 in the first period and attempted 29 shots to the Eagles’ eight.

Soares’ goal came off a turnover by Schneider, who tried to pass the puck to a defenseman from behind his net but put it right on Soares’ stick.

“I cut to the middle as quickly as I could and got off a shot,” said Soares, who was fully aware Schneider was trying to scramble back into position.

Schneider shouldered the blame, saying, “That was completely inexcusable at this point in the season. That goal dejected our guys.”

Schneider said he thought he was in pretty good position, “but Soares made a good shot over my [glove] shoulder.”

Leveille expanded the lead with Soares setting it up.

After Greg Moore pried the puck free, Soares gathered it up in the right circle, fought off a defenseman, and drove to the net front for a close-range shot.

“I chipped it up into his pad and got pushed into the net,” said Soares.

Leveille muscled his way to the top of the crease and swept the rebound home.

Damon made it 3-0 when Ryan wheeled at the top of the left circle and took a wrister that deflected in off his leg.

“I think one of their guys thought I was going to go to the net, so I did a 360 [degree turn] and shot it. I knew Derek was in front,” said Ryan.

Damon was being knocked to the ice and also provided a screen.

“They did a good job getting a net-front presence,” said Schneider.

Gionta scored 3:42 into the second period when he was sent in down the right wing by a nice touch pass from Brian Boyle and snapped a wrister between Maine goalie Ben Bishop’s pads.

But Bishop buckled down after that one, and he was immense during a five-minute span in the second period when he stopped Joe Rooney and Dan Bertram breakaways with his pads.

He also dove out of his net to deflect a Benn Ferriero break-in and snared a dangerous snap shot from Brian O’Hanley, who was a trailer on a three-on-two and blazed one from the left circle.

“He [Bishop] played a tremendous game for them,” said BC junior center Boyle.

Bishop credited his mates for the job they did in front of him.

“They held BC to 21 shots. They did a great job,” said Bishop, who noted that he hasn’t had to face more than 25 shots in any of his recent starts.

He has faced an average of 22 shots in his last four starts.

Maine did a good job protecting the lead in the third period, limiting BC to two Grade-A (high-percentage) shots on goal among the seven Bishop had to reject.

Maine outshot BC 40-21 and attempted 74 shots to BC’s 32. Schneider finished with 36 saves.

BLACK BEARS 4, EAGLES 1

Boston College (19-8-2) 0 1 0 – 1

Maine (20-10-1) 3 0 1 – 4

First period – 1. Maine, Soares 12 (unassisted), 6:42 (sh); 2. Maine, Leveille 11 (Soares, Moore), 14:30; 3. Maine, Damon 12 (Ryan, Wight), 15:27. Penalties: BC, Bradford, hooking, 1:54; Maine, Shepheard, boarding, 4:51; Maine, Jankus, interference, 10:52; Maine, Damon, tripping, 18:50.

Second period – 4. BC, Gionta 10 (Boyle, Harrold), 3:42. Penalties: BC, Gerbe, 10-minute misconduct, 5:55; BC, Brennan, interference, 8:21; Maine, Wight, tripping, 12:34; BC, Bertram, obstruction-hooking, 14:41.

Third period – 5. Maine, Ryan 8 (J. Hopson, Mi. Lundin), 19:53 (en). Penalties: BC, Collins, hooking, 11:07, Maine, Soares, roughing and instigating, 13:40, BC, Gannon, roughing, 13:40.

Shots on goal: BC 3-11-7-21; Maine 17-12-11-40

Goaltenders: BC, Schneider (39 shots-36 saves); Maine, Bishop (21-20)

Power-play opportunities: BC 0 of 5; Maine 0 of 4

High-percentage scoring chances: BC 2-7-3-12; Maine 10-8-8-26

Attendance: 5,541