The University of Maine Men's Hockey team traveled to Portland's Cross Insurance Arena to open up their series against No.17 Notre Dame. Rob McGovern would get the start for the Black Bears and Cal Peterson of Notre Dame made his 79^th consecutive start for the Irish.
 
The Irish got off to a hot start against the Black Bears, as Jack Jenkins found the back of the net on assists from Cal Burke and Dennis Gilbert. At the 6:22 mark of the period, Anders Bjork would be the benefactor of a neutral zone turnover, making the score 2-0 on the unassisted play. The teams would skate with neither giving up a goal the last 13:48 of the period and compiling 12 shots apiece. Cal Petersen remained perfect in the frame, stopping all 12 shots.
 
The second period saw the Irish capitalize early again as Andrew Oglevie scored 1:37 into the frame, on an assist from Dennis Gilbert. This would be the lone goal of the period as McGovern stopped 8 of 9 Notre Dame shots, while Cal Petersen remained perfect, stopping all Black Bear bids for 19 saves through 2.
 
Maine looked to storm back in the third period. Red Shirt Senior Matt Morris opened up the third period for Maine between the pipes. Brendan Robbins got the scoring going for the Black Bears 12:42 into the period as he used his speed to beat a Notre Dame defender and slip the puck through Petersen's legs on assists from Blaine Byron and Sam Becker. Maine would continue to press and with 4 seconds to go in the period, Nolan Vesey was able to find the back of the net on a seeing-eye shot on an assist from Cam Brown. Maine was unable to breakthrough on the ensuing faceoff, and Notre Dame secured the 3-2 win.
 
Maine looks to split the series tomorrow night as they take on Notre Dame in Alfond Arena. Limited tickets are available at goblackbears.com.
 
-UMaine-