NORTH ANDOVER, Massachusetts -- The University of Maine men's ice hockey team behind their stellar penalty kill defeated Merrimack College, 4-2, on Saturday night inside the Lawler Rink.
 
First Goal (Merrimack 1-0): With Maine in the penalty box, Merrimack scored the first goal of the game 3:48 into the first period. Alex Carle fired a shot intentionally wide of the net. Logan Drevitch appeared to kick the puck into the Black Bears' net. After a lengthy review, Drevitch's goal was upheld by the referees for the Warriors first goal of the contest.
 
Second Goal (1-1): Ryan Smith scored his second goal in as many nights when he found the back of the net 9:20 left in the opening frame. Patrick Shea started the scoring play when he sent the puck ahead to Emil Westerlund. Westerlund found his linemate who did the rest. Maine tied the game at the halfway point.
 
Third Goal (2-1 Merrimack): Derek Petti single handedly scored Merrimack's second goal of the first period. Off of a Warriors' face-off win, Petti corralled the loose puck and beat Jeremy Swayman. With 5:46 to go in the first period, Merrimack grabbed their second lead of the Hockey East match-up.
 
Fourth Goal (2-2): Less than two minutes later, the Black Bears evened the score. Mitchell Fossier maintained possession of the puck after he was hit to the ice. As he laid on the ice, Fossier found a wide open Sam Becker. The defenseman picked his spot and fired from the blue line. Becker's goal was the final of an action packed first period.
 
Fifth Goal (Maine 3-2): On a two-on-one rush, Brendan Robbins lit the lamp for the sixth time this season. Shea fought to free the puck from Merrimack possession. Emil Westerlund started the rush with Robbins. With the defender focusing on Westerlund, the senior from Nashua, New Hampshire had no problem burying the puck. The Black Bears held a 3-2 lead going into the third period.
 
Sixth Goal (Maine 4-2): Mitchell Fossier sealed the win for Maine when he scored on empty net goal with 00:02 left. The Black Bears managed to kill a 5-minute major and a 6-on-4 in the final period to grab two very important Hockey East Points.
 
Notes:

• Jeremy Swayman finished with 39 saves for Maine. Craig Pantano started the game for Merrimack and stopped 8 Black Bear shot, while Logan Halladay played the second and third period and tallied 18 saves.
• The Black Bears went 0-5 on the power play, as they only allowed one power play goal in the 10 Warrior chances.
• Maine blocked 12 shots on the night.

Next: The Black Bears will host the Boston College Eagles on February 22nd at the Alfond Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm.