Statistics

FALMOUTH, Maine -- Four 3rd-period goals, including a pair of empty-netters, lifted No.13 Bowdoin College past No.7 University of New England by a 6-2 spread in the championship game of the Inaugural Lobster Pot Men's Ice Hockey Tournament on Saturday (Jan. 3) at the Falmouth Family Ice Center.

Featuring all four of Maine's Division III programs, the first edition of the event goes to the Polar Bears (8-2-1) and Lobster Pot Most Valuable Player, Jacob Osborne. The Bowdoin goalie posted a 23-save shutout in Friday's opening round, and turned away 31 of 33 shots to deny the Nor'easters (9-3-0).

The Polar Bears tallied the lone score of the opening stanza, off the stick of Bryce Bollman, and were then out-shot by a 15-2 disparity in the middle frame. UNE chalked up both of its goals during that period, a mere 17 seconds apart, to take the lead at 2-1. First, it was Mike Tersoni picking the top, near-side corner from the bottom of the left circle, with assists from Braxton Powers and Ike Keller. From behind the cage, Keller slipped it out front to Powers, who managed to tap it backwards while falling onto his back at the edge of the crease. Then Nathan Chickering put a jolt into the Nor'easter faithful by stuffing a one-timer on the right side, off a one-touch feed from Jayden Price as he backed along the end wall, just left of center. Cam Bergeman added a secondary assist.

But Bowdoin converted a 2-on-1 break with a goal by Aidan Lyons with 2:03 left in the 2nd to knot things back up (2-2).

Jake Minella and Gabe Shipper restored the Polar Bear edge during the initial 3:43 of the 3rd, and the Nor'easters pulled their goalie with 5:27 remaining to try and shake things up. However, an offensive-zone faceoff win was pulled back in between two players at the blue line and with enough momentum to go the length of the ice for a goal credited to Michael Dinges with 4:48 on the clock. UNE tried again, but Justin Wright capped the night by sliding another into the open cage.

The contest only had one penalty called on each squad, which kept UNE's 28 percent power play unit on the bench for much more than is usually the case (averaging 4.3 chances per outing). Meanwhile, on the other end, the Nor'easters killed off their 39th-consecutive penalty -- every other NCAA men's program in the country (both Division III and Division I) has allowed at least two goals during the opponent's advantage.

Harrison Chesney had 14 saves for the Nor'easters, who are slated for Conference of New England (CNE) action the rest of the season, beginning back at home on Friday (7 p.m.) against Suffolk University.