ORONO — Freshman Connor Leen had not yet scored for the University of Maine hockey team this season.

Apparently, he was waiting for just the right moment.

Leen’s rebound of his own shot broke a 4-4 tie late in the game. Maine then added two empty-net goals for a 7-4 win over Boston College on Saturday afternoon, before 5,098 at Alfond Arena.

“Against BC, ranked third in the country, it’s the biggest moment in my life so far,” said Leen, a forward from Chester, N.Y.

Matt Mangene recorded a hat trick, including a short-hander and an empty-netter. Joey Diamond scored twice and Spencer Abbott had three assists. BC’s Barry Almeida also had a hat trick.

Following Maine’ 4-3 overtime win Friday, the Black Bears enjoyed a two-game sweep of BC for the first time in six years.

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Maine improved to 12-8-3, 9-7-2 in Hockey East, while the Eagles, ranked No. 3 nationally, dropped to 14-10-1, 10-7-1

Black Bears goalie Dan Sullivan continues to look ready for prime time with 31 saves. BC freshman goalie Brian Billett of Brunswick, made 28 saves on 33 shots.

“Billett did a good job, made some nice saves,” BC coach Jerry York said.

“I thought our team played well. We could have won both games. Full credit to Maine. They’re a very sound hockey team.”

The Eagles began Saturday with an extra spurt in their skates, scoring twice in the first 4 1/2 minutes for a 2-0 lead.

“We expected them to come out hard,” Diamond said. “We kind of weathered their storm.”

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Maine scored on its first three power plays to take the lead.

Diamond re-directed Will O’Neill’s slapshot at 13:14.

Abbott then found Mike Flynn on the back door and he easily scored at 15:45.

On the third power play, in the second period, Abbott held the puck in the left circle while two Black Bears charged the net. Abbott sizzled a pass into the crease and Mangene poked it into the far post at 9:19 for a 3-2 Maine lead.

BC looked to get a break when Maine defenseman Mike Cornell was whistled for hitting from behind at 13:14 – a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct for Cornell.

But 12 seconds into the power play, Maine was celebrating. Mangene took possession and charged in on a 2-on-1. Mangene’s shot was blocked by Billett, but Mangene kept coming and swatted in the rebound for a 4-2 lead at 13:26.

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“Just used my speed and was able to get my own rebound, and popped it over his shoulder,” Mangene said.

Almeida got his second goal with a power-play score at 14:01, closing the score to 4-3.

Maine’s fourth power play featured a goal, but it was Almeida scoring short-handed, tying the game 4-4 at 8:36 in the third period.

Later, BC, looked to have an odd-man rush, with a fast-developing 4-on-3. A pass to the trailing BC skater was deflected by Jon Swavely, and Leen took control, going the other way.

Billett blocked Leen’s shot, but the puck bounced out and Leen swatted in the air into the net at 17:01.

“Pretty lucky, I guess,” Leen said.

Diamond heaved in an empty-netter from the Maine zone. Then Mangene was recording his third goal.

“The hat trick feels pretty good,” he said, “but all that matters is that we got four points this weekend.”

Maine plays two games at Boston University next weekend.


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