Junior F Derek Arnold (Foxboro, Mass.) scored 1:50 into overtime to lift No. 1 UMass Lowell over No. 8 Maine, 2-1, Friday night in the Hockey East Tournament Quarterfinal in front of 5,399 at the Tsongas Center.
With the win, UMass Lowell improved to 24-10-2 and booked its place in the Tournament semifinal Friday at the TD Garden, time and opponent to be determined.
UMass Lowell's win total ranks tied for third in its Division I history. The River Hawks went 26-10-4 in 1995-96 and 25-10-5 in 1993-94, head coach Norm Bazin's senior year. The victory was UMass Lowell's 10th in its last 11 games.
Maine ends its season with an 11-19-8 record.
UMass Lowell's trip to the semifinal is its first since the 2008-09 season when it defeated Northeastern, 3-2, in the semifinal en route to a 1-0 loss to Boston University.
UMass Lowell outshot the Black Bears 37-19 as freshman G Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce, Mich.) stopped 18 shots to improve to 16-2-0.
The winner came via sophomore F Scott Wilson (Oakville, Ont.), who drove the left side on a 2-on-1 break with freshman D Christian Folin (Gothenburg, Sweden) on the right. Wilson crossed to Folin, but Maine goalkeeper Martin Ouellete read it well and thwarted the attempt.
With Ouellette out of the play, freshman F Michael Fallon (Glenview, Ill.) batted the puck down and got a soft touch on it, but Arnold pounced and tipped home.
Maine struck first on a power play 7:51 into the second period when freshman F Ryan Lomberg won a faceoff in the right circle which went to freshman F Devin Shore, who slapped home through a screen in front of Hellebuyck.
UMass Lowell maintained its composure, however, and scored the equalizer 4:00 into the third period. Wilson attempted a wrap-around, but was stopped by Ouellette. Fallon was there, however, to poke home the loose puck.