Oct. 19, 2007

Stats

Orono, Maine - #17 Maine broke open a tight game with three goals during a four-minute span of the second period and went on from there to down valiant Mercyhurst 4-2 Friday at the Alfond Arena. The win was the Black Bears' first in three tries (1-2-0) while the Lakers dropped to 0-3 on the young season.

Maine senior defenseman Travis Ramsey put the Black Bears ahead late in the first period with his first goal of the season, beating Mercyhurst freshman net-minder Ryan Zapolski. Zapolski made his second successive start after junior transfer goaltender (and former Black Bear) Matt Lundin was injured in last Friday's 2-1 loss to Ohio State. Maine outshot the Lakers 14-5 in the opening twenty minutes.

Senior forward Wes Clark began the three-goal barrage at 8:44 of the second with junior winger Chris Hahn (11:31) and senior back-liner Bret Tyler (12:03) following suit. All the goals were even strength as the Black Bears owned an 18-8 shot advantage in the middle stanza.

Mercyhurst senior forward Ben Cottreau got Mercyhurst on the board when he cashed his first of the season at 8:35 of the third with help from linemates Ryan Toomey and Brandon Coccimiglio. Freshman winger Scott Pitt then notched his first collegiate score, the game's only power play goal, from Cottreau and Coccimiglio, at 12:22 of the third. Maine outdistanced Mercyhurst 17-12 in third period shots and 49-25 for the sixty minutes.

Despite a rough four minutes in the second period, Zapolski played well for the second straight game, stopping 45 Maine shots on goal. Junior Ben Bishop, a St. Louis Blues' draft choice, turned aside 23 Mercyhurst shots in picking up the win. The Lakers finished 1 of 8 on the power play while the Black Bears ended 0 of 8. Maine is now 3-0-1 lifetime against Mercyhurst.

The two teams will conclude the weekend series Saturday night at 7.