AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Maine Black Bears scored the game’s first goal and received a penalty-shot save from backup goalie Dave Wilson.

But even that wasn’t enough as the University of Massachusetts received goals 5:33 apart in the third period from Alex Berry and John Wessbecker to break a 1-1 tie and beat the Black Bears 3-2 to grab a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three Hockey East quarterfinal series at the Mullins Center Friday night.

The fourth-seeded Minutemen and fifth-seeded Black Bears will play game two tonight at 7.

UMass improved to 19-11-5 with its fifth straight win and third in eight days over the Black Bears.

Maine fell to 21-13-2 in losing for the fifth time in seven games.

Maine outshot UMass 40-24 and attempted 74 shots to UMass’ 46. Maine outshot UMass 17-4 in the third period, but the Minutemen scored two goals. The Bears had a decided edge in territorial play.

But it didn’t matter because the Minutemen again proved to be opportunistic and again received exemplary goaltending from Jon Quick, who made 13 Grade-A (high-percentage) saves among his final total of 38.

The teams swapped power- play goals over the first two periods.

Maine’s Billy Ryan converted on the power play at the 13:22 mark of the first period and UMass’ Kevin Jarman answered at the 7:00 mark of the second period.

“We played all right but we’ve got to stop making mistakes,” said Maine senior left wing and assistant captain Josh Soares. “We have no one to blame but ourselves.”

Soares said the Bears have continually hurt themselves in the second half of the season by failing to cover people, getting caught up ice and making ill-advised high-risk decisions at the offensive blue line which has led to odd-man rushes.

“[Quick] made huge saves and they capitalized on their chances. Two goals isn’t enough to win games for us right now,” said junior left wing Ryan. “Quick is a real good goalie. He plays his angles great.”

Berry, who had a goal and two assists in a 5-3 win over Maine last Saturday after having gone nine games without a point, put the Minutemen ahead for good thanks to a perfectly executed three-on-two.

Cory Quirk carried the puck through the middle and waited for the precise moment to dish the puck to Berry, who was streaking down the left wing.

Berry burst around Maine defenseman Matt Duffy, pulled the puck across the goalmouth and jammed it past Wilson. Maine argued that the net had come off its moorings before the puck entered the net but to no avail.

“I came in on my backhand and I knew Wilson likes to go down. So I pulled it over to my forehand and went around him,” said Berry, who capitalized on a mistake by Maine freshman center Tony Morrone. Berry was Morrone’s responsibility.

“Tony came back but then he left [Berry]. But Tony will learn from that,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead.

Wilson said he accidentally knocked the net off its moorings even before Berry cut across the net front so the goal should have been disallowed.

Whitehead said he wasn’t sure whether it was a goal or not but the league could remedy the situation by installing instant replay cameras.

Berry said he has had his “ups and downs” this season but is glad he has snapped out of it in the last two games.

“I’m just glad to be helping the team,” said Berry who added that his team displayed a lot of “poise with the puck.”

Wessbecker’s first career goal in 70 games came off a three-on-one created when Maine had a shot blocked and Will Ortiz came out of the penalty box to lead the rush after receiving a pass from Wessbecker. Maine defenseman Bret Tyler got trapped in the offensive zone.

Ortiz carried the puck down the left wing and got it over to Wessbecker, who was one of two Minutemen at the net front.

“It was a great play by Willy,” said Wessbecker. “He slid it across to me and I tapped it in.”

Berry was assessed a roughing penalty in the ensuing celebration and Brent Shepheard pulled Maine within 3-2 with 7:20 left as he parked in front of the net and deflected Mike Lundin’s wrister past Quick.

But the Bears couldn’t get the equalizer.

Wilson, playing in place of the injured Ben Bishop (groin pull) finished with 21 saves, including eight Grade-A stops. He is still looking for his first road win as he is now 0-5 away from Alfond Arena. One of those five losses came against New Hampshire after he replaced Bishop in the second period.

Maine junior center Keenan Hopson made his college debut as a defenseman and gave the Bears some solid minutes along the blue line.

Ryan’s goal was set up beautifully by Soares.

Soares took the puck from Tyler as they switched positions in the high slot, appeared poised to shoot it and then pinpointed a diagonal pass to Ryan, who simply kept his stick on the ice and directed it into the open short-side corner.

Maine had the better chances in the first period but UMass’ Chris Davis was awarded a penalty shot when Michel Leveille hauled him down to disrupt his breakaway.

Davis skated in on Wilson, made a few head fakes and transferred the puck to his backhand before flipping a shot that Wilson stopped with his right pad.

The unattended Jarman tied it as he kept whacking at the puck as he stood behind the extended goal line.

“I made the first save on a shot from the point and he [Jarman] had a hack at the rebound. I got it with my pad. He took another shot and it popped in the air. I tried to glove it but missed it,” said Wilson. “It dropped on the goal line and he shot it quick and it hit my glove and went in.”

Whitehead was encouraged by the performance but disappointed with the outcome.

“We played hard. But they were one goal better than we were. We had plenty of chances. Quick is a difference-maker,” said Whitehead.

MINUTEMEN 3, BLACK BEARS 2

Maine (21-13-2) 1 0 1 – 2

Massachusetts (19-11-5) 0 1 2 – 3

First period – 1. Maine, Ryan 11 (Soares, Tyler), 13:22 (pp). Penalties: Maine, Shepheard, high sticking, 2:34; Maine, Leveille, roughing, 8:24; UMass, Fenton, roughing, 8:24; UMass, Capraro, slashing, 12:36; UMass, Burto, hooking, 15:08; Maine, Leveille, interference, 16:53 (penalty shot by Davis).

Second period – 2. UMass, Jarman 8 (Fenton), 7:00 (pp). Penalties: Maine, Shepheard, goaltender interference, 5:37; UMass, Ortiz, tripping, 14:48; Maine, Purcell, hooking, 18:26.

Third period – 3. UMass, Berry 6 (Quirk, Leadbetter), 5:39; 4. UMass, Wessbecker 1 (Ortiz); 5. Maine, Shepheard 7 (Lundin, Purcell), 12:40 (pp). Penalties: UMass, Capraro, slashing, 5:59; UMass, Ortiz, slashing, 9:02; UMass, Berry, roughing after the whistle, 11:12.

Shots on goal: Maine 15-8-17-40; UMass 11-9-4-24

Goaltenders: Maine, Wilson (24 shots-21 saves); UMass, Quick (40-38)

Power-play opportunities: Maine 2 of 6; UMass 1 of 4

High-percentage scoring chances: Maine 7-6-10-23; UMass 3-9-3-15

Attendance: 7,119