ORONO, Maine (December 7, 2024) – The University of Maine, ranked No. 5 in the USCHO Division I poll, scored three goals in the third period to secure a 5-2 victory over Stonehill College in a non-conference men's ice hockey matchup at Harold Alfond Sports Arena this afternoon.
Highlights
- Sophomore Josh Nadeau totaled three points with a goal and two assists, including a goal and assist in the third period as Maine scored three times to secure the win.
- Senior Taylor Makar totaled a goal and assist for the Black Bears – both in the opening period as the hosts grabbed a two-goal lead.
- Senior Nolan Renwick dished out two assists for Maine, while juniors Grayson Arnott and Nicholas Niemo each contributed goals.
- Postgrad Connor Androlewicz, who transferred to Stonehill after four years at Maine, finished with a career-high matching 41 saves in the Skyhawks goal, while sophomore Albin Boija registered 14 stops in goal for Maine.
- Freshman Justin Gibson delivered two assists for Stonehill.
- Sophomore Brady Hunter and freshman Leo Chambers scored second period goals for the Skyhawks to pull even heading to the final period.
- Maine struck twice within a 2:16 span midway through the first period to grab a two-goal lead in a period it outshot Stonehill 18-2.
- Makar gave the Black Bears the lead with his sixth goal of the year 7:49 into the game with Nadeau and Renwick picking up their first assists of the night.
- Scott added a power-play goal at 10:05, aided by a Makar assist, to double the Maine lead with his tenth goal of the year.
- Stonehill fought back, carrying a power play into the second period, and then pulled a goal back just after it expired when Chambers pounced on a loose puck on the backside of the goal on the rebound of junior captain Frank Ireland just 1:40 into the second, with Gibson also assisting.
- The Skyhawks quieted the Maine crowd even further with 1:15 to play before the second intermission as Hunter scored his third of the year with a power-play goal assisted by Gibson and senior Devlin O'Brien.
- Maine emerged from the intermission and scored three goals over the first seven minutes to seal the win.
- Arnott's first goal of the season put Maine in front for good just 1:39 into the third with Renwick and Nadeau assisting.
- Niemo restored Maine's two-goal cushion three minutes later with his first goal of the year and then Nadeau added his fourth goal at the tail end of a five-on-three power play at 7:03 that sealed the win.
- Maine marks the highest-ranked opponent for Stonehill at No. 5 in program history.
- Androlewicz' 41 saves marks the second time he has reached the career-high after notching 41 in Stonehill's overtime win against Merrimack College, also of Hockey East, on November 12.
- Gibson posted the first multi-point game of his Stonehill career.
- Hunter's goal gives him ten career points (3&7) in 32 career games, including his two goals and five assists at Merrimack.
Up Next
Stonehill (6-12-0) and No. 5-ranked Maine (10-2-2, 5-2-2 HEA) will conclude their two-game weekend series tomorrow at 3 p.m., in a matchup that will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and check out its all-new website, powered by Sidearm Sports, at stonehillskyhawks.com.
