NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. -- The University of Maine men's ice hockey team was defeated by the Merrimack College Warriors, 6-2, on Wednesday evening in the Lawler Rink.
 
First Goal (1-0 Merrimack): On their first power play opportunity of the evening, the Warriors scored the first goal of the contest. Looking like the Black Bears were about to clear the zone, Steven Jandric put a stop to the attempt. The forward took advantage of the early opportunity and gave his squad a 1-0 lead.
 
Second Goal (2-0 Merrimack): 00:34 into the second period, Filip Forsmark doubled the Warriors lead. A miscommunication in the neutral zone led to an easy breakaway goal for Forsmark. Maine trailed 2-0 in the opening minutes of the second period.
 
Third Goal (3-0 Merrimack): Matt Copponi, with traffic in front of Matthew Thiessen, scored the second goal in four minutes for his squad. Nolan Renwick blocked two Warrior shots before one finally found its way to Copponi's stick. The forward's backhanded shot extended the Merrimack lead to three goals.
 
Fourth Goal (3-1 Merrimack): After he forced a turnover in the Warriors' end, Lynden Breen scored the first goal of the night for the Black Bears. Ben Poisson picked up the loose puck, dished it to Breen, and the forward brought Maine to within two goals. With just over five minutes left in the second period, Merrimack led 3-1.
 
Fifth Goal (4-1 Merrimack): Max Newton flipped home the fourth goal of the playoff game for the Warriors. Thiessen made the original save but left too much of a rebound. Early in the third period, the lead was once again three for Merrimack.
 
Sixth Goal (5-1 Merrimack): Liam Walsh added another goal at the 11:06 mark.
 
Seventh Goal (6-1 Merrimack): Newton scored an empty net goal with 2:58 remaining in the contest.
 
Eighth Goal (6-2 Merrimack): Matthew Fawcett scored the final goal of the Opening Round game. Jack Quinlivan and John Mulera assisted on the goal. Maine was defeated by a score of 6-2.
 
Notes: Matthew Thiessen stopped 19 shots for the Black Bears, while Hugo Ollas tallied 26 saves for Merrimack.
 
Maine went 0 for 1 on its power play opportunity, as the Warriors were 1-2 on its player advantages.
 
The Black Bears blocked nine shots and won 27 face-offs as a team.
 
Next: This concludes the 2021-22 season for the University of Maine men's ice hockey team.
 
-UMaine-