UMaine hockey came up on the short end of a 4-2 score after battling the #2 team in the nation, the UMass Minutemen on Friday night at Alfond Arena.

UMass is now 19-4 (11-2 HE) as the program is having its best season ever.

The Black Bears drop to 8-12-3 (4-6-3 HE).

Marc Del Gaizo scored the first goal for the Minutemen just three minutes into the game. Talented forward Jacob Pritchard gave UMass a 2-0 with a score in the second period.

Maine's Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup got the Bears back within a goal and it was 2-1after two periods.

UMass made it 3-1 early in the third period before Emil Westerlund scored a last minute goal to make it 3-2.

But the Minutemen finished things with an empty net goal.

Jeremy Swayman made 38 saves for the Black Bears. Filip Lindberg stopped 25 for UMass.

Game two of the weekend series is tonight.

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