Wes Clark scored the game-winning goal 2:56 into overtime as Maine defeated Massachusetts 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at Alfond Arena.
Andrew Sweetland, who had two goals and an assist, controlled the puck in the Maine (10-17-3, 6-14-3 Hockey East) zone in the left corner and sent a centering pass to Clark, who was just outside the left crease. Clark redirected the pass, sending the puck by Meyers for the game-winning goal, his second of the contest.
The Minutemen trailed 4-1 heading into the third period before scoring three consecutive goals and shutting out the Black Bears in the frame to force the overtime. P.J. Fenton, Alex Berry and Mike Kostka all scored in the third, while Dan Meyers played the third period and overtime in goal making 12 saves.
The third period was all UMass (11-13-6, 6-12-5) after the Minutemen fell behind in the first two periods. Fenton scored the first goal of the period, a power-play goal just 1:44 into the frame, to spark the rally.
Alex Berry scored almost three minutes later to pull the Minutemen within one, and with momentum swinging in UMass’ favor, Maine peppered shots at Meyers, but he was up to the task with nine saves to keep the Black Bears off the board.
UMass blueliners David Leaderer and Kostka teamed up for the game-tying goal with 3:29 to play. Kostka ripped a shot from just inside the blueline that sneaked past Ben Bishop for the game-tying goal, capping the rally to force overtime.
Earlier on, UMass scored 9:48 into the second period to pull within one, 2-1, when Chris Davis scored his fourth goal of the season. Davis also added an assist in the game, giving him three points for the weekend.
Maine added two more goals, however, to take a 4-1 lead going into the second intermission. Clark scored his first of the game with 6:38 to go, while Sweetland scored a power-play goal nearly five minutes later.
Maine tallied a pair of goals in the first period to take a 2-0 lead going into the first intermission. Chris Hahn put the Black Bears on the scoreboard first with his goal 8:40 into the game. Sweetland netted Maine’s second goal of the period with just under two minutes remaining.
Both teams fired 11 shots on goal, but the Minutemen could not find any room past Bishop.
The Minutemen held a 40-29 shot advantage including a 19-5 edge in the second period. Maine entered the weekend with the No. 1 penalty-kill in Hockey East and limited UMass to just one power play goal in six chances.
