ORONO, Maine -- Scott Darling (Lemont, Ill.) made 31 saves and rookie Adam Shemansky (Robbinsville, N.J.) scored a pair of goals to lead the University of Maine men's ice hockey team to a 4-1 victory over #10 Vermont on Friday night at Alfond Arena. The Black Bears improves to 2-5-0 on the season with the win and 1-2-0 in Hockey East play. Vermont falls to 2-3-0, 1-2-0 in conference play.
The Black Bears opened the scoring 5:23 into the first period on Kevin Swallow's (Stanwood, Mich.) second goal of the season. Freshman Matt Mangene collected the puck his own zone and ripped a shot on Vermont goaltender Rob Madore. Madore made the save, but Swallow was right there to clean up the rebound to put Maine up 1-0. David deKastrozza (Toms River, N.J.) began the play when he chipped the puck up to Mangene.
Maine would extend its lead to 2-0 just over four minutes later when freshman Adam Shemansky found the back on the net for the fourth time this year. While on the man advantage, Spencer Abbott (Hamilton, Ontario) faked a shot on Madore and then slipped a shot from the point to Shemansky, who tipped the puck in to beat the Vermont goaltender. Robby Dee (Plymouth, Minn.) was also credited with an assist as he won the face-off to begin the play.
Maine goaltender Scott Darling opened the second period by making a couple key saves including a beautiful kick save on a Vermont slapshot right off a faceoff just a minute in. However, Vermont would close the Maine lead to one goal when Matt Marshall received a pass at the blue line from Brayden Irwin and skated in on Darling. Marshall rifled a shot from the right circle which found its way through Darling. For Marshall, it was his first goal of the season.
Maine would battle back as Darling kept Maine in the game by making several point blank stops. Darling kept the Black Bear lead at 2-1 heading into the second intermission by shutting down Colin Vock when he skated in all alone with eight seconds left in the second period. He tried to go five-hole on Darling, who went down and made the top-notch save.
The Black Bears would waste no time extending their lead on the power play when Jeff Dimmen (Colorado Springs, Colo.) put home his first goal of the season just 18 seconds into the third period. Dimmen received a pass from Robby Dee and skated into the left circle. Dimmen made a move, recollected the puck and fired a wrist shot to beat Madore, putting Maine up 3-1. Gustav Nyquist (Malmo, Sweden) picked up an assist on the play to extend his point streak to six games.
The Black Bears extended their lead to three goals when Shemansky scored his second of the night and the third Maine power play goal of the contest. The Black Bears worked the puck around the back of the net and out to Ryan Hegarty (Arlington, Mass.). Hegarty found David deKastrozza (Toms River, N.J.) who fired a shot on Madore. Madore made the save but the puck trickled out to Shemansky who was able to bank the puck off Madore's pads.
Darling was outstanding for the Black Bears. He made a season-high 31 saves and stopped three breakaways. He improves to 2-1-0 on the season. Madore made 35 saves for the Catamounts.
All four of Maine's goals were scored on special teams. The Black Bears were 3-for-10 on the power play and scored one short-handed tally. Maine held Vermont scoreless in five power play chances.
The Black Bears Black Bears return to action on Sunday, Nov. 8 when they host defending national champion Boston University at 4 pm at Alfond Arena in Orono. Tickets are on sale and may be purchased by calling 207-581-BEAR or 1-800-756-TEAM.