Auburn, ME - Goals from Shawn Sullivan, Trevor Roche, and Collin Sheehan held up a 31 save performance from Central Maine Community College goaltender Jacob Strout as the Mustangs edged visiting rival Thomas College 3-1 on home ice Saturday night. The win snapped a two game losing streak against the Terriers, who came into the game ranked #9 in the ACHA's Atlantic Region.
The Mustangs dominated the opening period of play with chance after chance turned aside by Terriers goaltender Gaston Fuksa. Their diligence would be rewarded with 6:32 remaining in the first period. Sean Coleman raced down the left wing and pulled up on the half boards, dishing a pass to Sullivan who was trailing the play. He released a wrist shot that eluded Fuksa and gave the Mustangs an important first goal.
"We knew scoring first would be pivotal," said Mustangs head coach Matt Buotte. "We wanted to establish a lead and play with confidence."
The Mustangs would double their lead just over two minutes later. Trevor Roche collected a loose puck in front and whipped it by Fuksa with 4:09 remaining to give Central Maine a 2-0 lead heading into the break. Riley Lavoie and Sam Alexander added assists on the play. Central Maine held a 14-7 shots advantage through the opening period of play.
Thomas would build a game in the second period as the Mustangs found themselves in penalty trouble. With Austin Taylor in the box for slashing Jaymen Swygert would solve Strout with 12:52 to play in the second on a seeing-eye shot from the left point. Ryan Kappelman and Rahjan Munnings added assists on the power play tally.
The game would remain 2-1 heading into the third with both teams trading chances. Thomas would go on the power play with 7:17 remaining after a Parker Springer roughing penalty but were unable to level the game, with Strout making several saves and the Mustangs defense blocking several key opportunities as they clung to a one goal advantage.
From there, newcomer Collin Sheehan would score his first ACHA goal of the semester and stall the Thomas comeback effort. After a crisp breakout, Alexander found Sheehan streaking through the neutral zone where he backed off the Thomas defense and unleashed a wrist shot from the top of the slot, blowing it by Fuksa and extending Central Maine lead to 3-1 with 2:47 remaining. Roche would add a secondary assist on the play.
After Trevor Olivier was whistled for tripping with 1:53 remaining Fuksa was lifted for an extra attacker but the hosts held strong, with Strout making the last few saves of his 31 save victory as time ticked away.
"Jacob was massive tonight," said Buotte of his goalkeeper. "He was composed and made the first save all night. From there our defensemen did a good job of clearing second chance opportunities and shutting them down. It was a big win for our club."
The two teams will meet again Wednesday, February 5th in Hallowell when the Terriers will play host. Puck drops at 8:10 p.m. at the Bank of Maine Ice Vault.
