Auburn, ME – CMCC Men's Hockey returned to its home ice with a 5-1 win against UMaine (AAU/ACHA D2) Sunday afternoon in front of a packed house at Norway Savings Bank Arena. Five different players scored for the Mustangs who have now won 12 straight games at home dating back to October of last year.
Both teams played physically in the opening period with chances coming at a premium. Each side created a good scoring opportunity late in the frame. UMaine's Ben Spear teed off on a loose puck in the slot with under three minutes remaining, only to be denied by CMCC goaltender Cam Wicken's shoulder. Cody Dionne then led a two-on-oh the other way for the Mustangs only to see his pass across the crease for Aaron Higgins go just wide.
Central Maine finally found the breakthrough with 1:31 left in the period. Lucas Laforest sprung fellow freshman forward Gavin Pellerin down the left wing into the zone. He dished it into the slot for Higgins who roofed his shot under the crossbar past a sprawling Brandon White for the 1-0 lead. It was the fourth goal of the season for the Falmouth, ME native who set the CMCC single-season points record last year with 62 points on 32 goals and 30 assists.
It wasn't until 8:44 into the second that the hosts doubled their advantage. Once again, passing was the key to the goal. Colby Pawson knocked the puck up the boards for Dionne, triggering a two-on-one rush. He weaved across the slot before dropping a pass to alternate captain Michael Belleau. The two dished the puck back and forth before Belleau knocked it in at the right post for his third of the year.
The Black Bears began to tire in the third period, and a trio of first-year players took advantage. Windham High School product Sam Foley tallied his first goal in a Mustangs jersey at the nine-minute mark, finishing off a rebound in front.
Braeden Gagnon then caught the goaltender diving out of the crease trying to clear the puck. The Lewiston, ME native somehow put his backhand attempt wide of the open net but made amends by gathering the puck and knocking it in off a UMaine defenseman.
Laforest rounded out the scoring with 4:04 remaining in the contest. Zach Mitton passed across the top of the zone to captain Jonathan Rioux, who set up Laforest in the slot. The Bonny Eagle High School product deked his way around two Black Bears in the slot before firing a wrister that just squeezed under White's arm to make it 5-0.
UMaine pulled one back with 1:53 to go, spoiling Wickens' shutout bid, but the CMCC goaltender still recorded 23 saves to pick up his second win of the season.
This game marked the start of a ten-game homestand for the Mustangs. Central Maine next plays host to the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers for a two-game weekend set starting Saturday, October 18th at 7:00 pm.
