ORONO, Maine -- Rookie Brian Flynn (Lynnfield, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal at 18:26 of the third period as the University of Maine men's ice hockey team knocked off second-ranked Boston College 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Alfond Arena in Orono, Maine. The Black Bears extend their winning streak to three games and improve to 4-3-0 on the season and 1-2-0 in Hockey East play. Boston College falls to 5-3-0 overall and 3-2-0 in conference play.
Maine and defending national champion Boston College skated to a scoreless first period, with Maine holding a 15-5 advantage in shots. Maine struck first with a power play goal at 7:32 of the second period. Simon Danis-Pepin (Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec) found Josh Van Dyk (Woodstock, Ontario) on the blueline. Boston College goalie John Muse made the save on Van Dyk, but the rebound when right to senior Chris Hahn (Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan), who was to the right of Muse. Hahn corralled the lose puck and beat Muse to give Maine the 1-0 lead. Hahn extended his goal-scoring streak to three games with the tally.
The Black Bears held the lead until Benn Ferriero tie the game for the Eagles just 53 seconds into the third period. In transition, Ferriero had a shot that Maine goalie Scott Darling (Lemont, Ill.) stopped, but the rebound when right back to Ferriero, who followed his shot and beat Darling. Brian Gibbons and Brock Bradford assisted on the goal for Boston College.
The game remained tied and looked as if it were headed to overtime with less than two minutes to play. Maine, having just killed a power play, had the puck in its offensive end. Boston College gained control and tried to clear the zone, but Jeff Dimmen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) was able to keep the puck in at the blueline. Dimmen found Mike Banwell (Scarborough, Ontario) on the wall near the right faceoff circle. Banwell shot the puck which Muse saved, but the rebound went right to Flynn in front of the goal, who was easily able to beat Muse. For Flynn, it was his second goal of the season.
Boston College pulled Muse, but the Black Bears were able to withstand the pressure in the final minute, blocking several shots to earn the victory. It is Maine's first win over the Eagles since Feb. 18, 2006.
Maine finished the game 1-for-6 on the power play, while holding the Boston College scoreless in six chances.
Maine rookie goalie Scott Darling was outstanding, making 24 saves on 25 shots. At one point in the first period, he stopped a clean 2-on-1 breakaway by the Eagles, making a kick save to keep the game scoreless. Darling improves to 3-1-0 on the season. Muse made 22 saves and falls to 5-3-0 on the campaign.
The Black Bears return to action on Friday, Nov. 14 when they travel to Providence for a weekend series with the Friars. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday night.