ORONO, Maine — Defending national champion Union College put on an impressive exhibition of fundamental hockey Friday night.
Union received a fluke first-period goal from Mike Vecchione, an early third-period score by Matt Wilkins and an empty-netter from Spencer Foo to beat the University of Maine’s punchless Black Bears 3-0 before a large and energetic crowd at the Alfond Arena.
Maine (0-3) has now scored only three goals this season and has posted two goals or less in 11 of its last 14 games dating to last season.
The teams play again at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Union (3-0) has now won 15 in a row dating back to last season and is unbeaten in its last 20 games (19-0-1).
The Dutchmen had a decided edge in play over the first two periods and protected the lead efficiently in the third period although the Black Bears carried the play and had the Dutchmen on the back foot for the majority of the period.
But the Bears couldn’t solve Union senior goalie Colin Stevens, who made 29 saves.
“I thought it was a pretty even game five-on-five,” said Maine coach Red Gendron. “We didn’t capitalize on our chances. They’re a good veteran team that plays well defensively. We missed the net and shot into the goalie’s hands too much. If you notice, when we shot it low, there were rebounds.”
Gendron added that the second goal involved a mistake by one of his players because the player got impatient and vacated his position.
Union was solid positionally and made it difficult for Maine to sustain any pressure in the offensive zone over the first 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, Union was able to cycle the puck effectively in the Maine zone, although the Black Bears did a respectable job limiting second-chance opportunities.
Stevens wasn’t seriously tested through the first two periods and was able to make a couple key stops in the third.
Matt Morris also finished with 29 and kept Maine within range with a number of superb stops through the first two periods.,
Vecchione scored 6:26 into the game during a line change.
He fired a slap shot from center ice that deflected off the top of the glove of Morris, popped in the air and dropped behind him.
“I was going to play the puck and I took my eye off it for a split-second. It shouldn’t have happened,” said Morris, who atoned for the miscue with an outstanding performance the rest of the way.
“Matt played very well,” said Gendron.
The Dutchmen completely dominated the first 18 minutes of the first period, but the Black Bears were able to stay within a goal.
Maine killed off a five-minute major for charging on Malcolm Hayes that occurred just 34 seconds after Vecchione’s goal.
Morris atoned for his mistake on the goal with several important saves during the major, and the Maine penalty-killers also did a commendable job limiting Union’s second- and third-chance opportunities.
Maine finally generated some offense in the final two minutes with Will Merchant busting down the left wing and getting off an in-tight backhander which Stevens was able to smother at the near post.
The play was a little more even in the second period, although the Dutchmen were able to sustain the forecheck more effectively than Maine and create the better of the scoring opportunities.
Early in the period, Union turned a Jake Rutt turnover into a two-on-one, but Morris bailed his mates out by sliding over to make a pad save off Roman Ammirato, who was set up nicely by Michael Pontarelli.
Blaine Byron nearly equalized halfway through the period, but his quick snap shot from the left circle rattled off the crossbar.
Stevens was tested with seven minutes left in the period as he made a pad save off Byron and a more challenging blocker stop off Connor Leen on the rebound.
Maine had a good spell early in the third period as the Black Bears were able to sustain some pressure.
But the Dutchmen scored their all-important insurance goal when Kevin Shier did a nice job corralling the puck in the neutral zone and slid a pinpoint pass across to an uncovered Wilkins, who simply angled his stick to deflect the puck into the net past Morris.
“Any time you can come on the road and come out with a win, it’s a good win,” said Union coach Rick Bennett. “But we made mistakes and have to play harder on Saturday night.”
Gendron thought his defense corps worked hard but some of his forwards’ compete level left wasn’t what it should have been.