Box Score

BRUNSWICK, Maine -- Harry Matheson scored with 8:22 remaining to give nationally-ranked Bowdoin College a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the University of New England in non-league men's ice hockey action Tuesday (Jan. 8) night at Watson Arena.

The win keeps the No. 4 Polar Bears as the nation's lone unbeaten team at 12-0-1, while the Nor'easters drop to 3-9. This was the second meeting of the season between the two squads, with Bowdoin taking a 4-2 victory over UNE back on Nov. 20.

Trailing 3-2 after two periods, Bowdoin tied the score at 5:54 of the third when John McGinnis slipped a shot from the slot past UNE goaltender Ian Edwards. Matheson notched the game-winner roughly six minutes later, re-directing a slapshot from Timothy McGarry. The Nor'easters had their chances late, but Bowdoin netminder Steve Messina denied five attempts in the final two minutes.

The game was back-and-forth the entire evening. UNE opened the scoring less than three minutes into the contest when Fred Hein received a pass from Sam Vikich and skated in to deposit the puck past Messina to give Big Blue a 1-0 lead.

Bowdoin's Jay Livemore knotted the game at 1-all 2:25 into the second, converting a power-play opportunity off a feed from McGarry. 

The teams would then trade goals shortly thereafter, with Brent Bourgeois doing the honors for the Nor'easters and Danny Palumbo tallying for the Polar Bears.

Big Blue grabbed a 3-2 lead midway thru the second frame when Adam Laite deposited a shot from the low slot into the cage for his fourth goal. Bourgeois and Zeth Zielinski were credited with assists on the play.

Bowdoin held a slim 34-31 advantage in shots on goal for the evening. Messina ended with 28 saves for the Polar Bears while Edwards had 30 for the Nor'easters.

UNE returns to action at the Harold Alfond Forum this Friday and Saturday with ECAC East contests versus St. Anselm College and New England College. The Nor'easters face-off with St. A's Friday evening at 7 p.m.