ORONO — The University of Maine men’s ice hockey team did not end its regular season on a high note Saturday night.
The Black Bears fell 4-3 to the University of Massachusetts at Alfond Arena. Cal Kiefiuk led the Minutemen (13-16-5) with two goals. UMass swept the weekend series after picking up a 5-2 victory over Maine on Friday night.
Maine dropped to 15-15-5, with a 9-11-4 record in Hockey East. Despite the loss, the Black Bears have doubled their win total from last season under second-year head coach Ben Barr.
Maine will host an opponent to be determined in the opening round of the Hockey East tournament at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Alfond Arena.
The Black Bears had 38-14 shot advantage over UMass. Kiefiuk scored both of his goals in the first period, giving the Minutemen a quick 2-0 lead. Scott Morrow added a goal in the second period to give UMass a 3-0 lead.
Maine got a goal back in the second period when Nolan Renwick’s power-play tally cut the deficit to 3-1.
Ben Poisson added another goal in the third period, off a rebound, to chop UMass’s lead to 3-2. The Minutemen’s Lucas Mercuri’s resounded to make it 4-2 before Maine’s Jakub Sirota answered on the following possession.
Maine got several shots on net in the final two minutes, but UMass goaltender Cole Brady (35 saves) managed to seal the win for the Minutemen.
Victor Ostman stopped 10 shots for Maine.
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