Wildcats bitten by Black Bears in OT at Fenway

BOSTON – The Wildcats didn't get the bounce they needed – again.

In a back-and-forth contest with an atmosphere unlike any other in college hockey, the University of New Hampshire men's hockey team took a tough luck 5-4 overtime loss to bitter rival Maine in front of 38,456 at Fenway Park Saturday night.

In a mild version of Frozen Fenway (game-time temperature was 49 degrees), the Wildcats' poor fortune struck again, resulting in another loss in an already disappointing season.

"We're pleased to get the bounce," Maine mentor Tim Whitehead said. "Let's face it – the puck could have bounced either way. Thankfully it went our way."

The Wildcats netted two third period goals in an emotional outdoor game to force overtime, but a shot off the stick of Maine's Joey Diamond deflected off teammate Brian Flynn – and possibly a UNH defender – before bouncing past UNH goalie Casey DeSmith and into the back of the net for the sudden death winner.

"We knew we could battle back," UNH forward Kevin Goumas said. "Unfortunately, it didn't end the way we hoped."

Goumas netted the Wildcats' third goal three minutes into the third period to cut the UNH deficit to one. Stevie Moses gained the zone and left the puck for Goumas who buried a hard wrist shot top shelf, his second goal of the night.

Not even two minutes later, John Henrion added his second of the night to knot the game at 4-4. Freshman Grayson Downing fired a wrist shot from the slot which bounced off Henrion and into the back of the net.

"When things aren't going well, we use that as motivation," Henrion said. "We were ready for this game. It was all business."

The Wildcats fall to 6-11-2 with the loss, their fifth straight, and sit at second-to-last in Hockey East play. They haven't won since taking a 6-2 victory over Alabama-Huntsville in November.

Things looked promising for UNH out of the gate, though.

Just a minute in, Henrion banged home a rebound in the slot to give the Wildcats the early lead.

But Maine responded two minutes later when Mark Anthoine banged home a one-timer off a nice feed from Kyle Beattie.

DeSmith, a freshman, made the second start of his career. He stopped 28 shots.

"I thought he played well," Umile said.

Goumas gave the Wildcats a 2-1 lead in the second period, but that was quickly erased by two Maine power-play goals.

Damon Kipp and Henrion picked up penalties that gave the Black Bears a brief 5-on-3, but before the vaunted Maine power-play unit could get to work, Goumas stole the puck in the neutral zone, skated in alone and beat Maine goalie Dan Sullivan for what seemed like a momentum shifting goal.

But 17 seconds later, Maine answered with a goal on the two-man advantage. And 50 seconds after that one, Maine took the lead with a goal on the one-man advantage.

"It was very important for us to capitalize there on the power play," Whitehead said. "But equally important was shutting them down on their power play."

The Wildcats weren't able to convert on two first period power plays, its only chances on the man advantage of the night.

Partly because of that and partly because the puck didn't bounce its way in overtime, UNH missed out on a good chance to gain momentum with a win in a game played in a special setting broadcast on regional television.

"I think there are a lot of positives we can take," Umile said. "We battled back against a good team in this atmosphere."