In its final game before the 2025 Beanpot tournament, Northeastern men’s hockey (9-12-3, 4-9-3 HE) was defeated by the No. 6 University of Maine Black Bears (16-5-3, 8-3-3 HE) 3-1 Jan. 31. This is the second matchup between Northeastern and Maine this season, with the Black Bears sweeping the Huskies Oct. 25 and 26.
The game was scoreless through the first period, with the Black Bears outshooting the Huskies 10-8.
Maine put the first goal on the board just over a minute into the second period. Northeastern’s senior forward Ryan McGuire followed a dumped puck behind the net before he was pressured by junior forward Owen Fowler. McGuire, attempting to clear the puck from danger, turned the puck over to sophomore forward Josh Nadeau along the boards. Nadeau fired a shot that was tipped by Fowler to put the Black Bears up 1-0.
Five minutes later, the Huskies struck back. After the puck was cleared from Northeastern’s defensive zone by freshman defenseman Seth Constance, sophomore defenseman Eli Sebastian collected the puck in the neutral zone. Sebastian’s pass was intercepted by two Maine defenders, but he was able to regain possession. Sebastian took the puck into Maine’s offensive zone before firing a long shot underneath the pads of sophomore goaltender Albin Boija for his first goal of the season.
Northeastern was unsuccessful in finishing the period with a level score. With just 30 seconds left in the second period, senior forward Taylor Makar put the Black Bears back in front. Senior forward Nolan Renwick possessed the puck behind the net before sliding a pass to sophomore defenseman Frank Djurasevic at the blue line. Djurasevic’s shot was tipped by Makar and the puck slid under the right pad of sophomore goaltender Cameron Whitehead, making the score 2-1.
In an attempt to tie the game, the Huskies pulled Whitehead from the net with 90 seconds remaining in the third period. Djurasevic sent a pass from Maine’s defensive zone to Nadeau in the neutral zone, who slid the puck to Makar to put into the empty net, for a final 3-1 scoreboard.
Northeastern will take on the Boston College Eagles (19-4-1, 12-3-1 HE) in the first round of the Beanpot tournament Feb. 8 at TD Garden.
