Auburn, ME – The CMCC men's hockey team opened its 2024-25 season with a 4-3 victory on home ice against the University of Maine ACHA team. The defending NorthEast Collegiate Hockey Association champs came from behind, down 0-2 in the second period to take the win over the Black Bears.
After a scoreless first period, UMaine found the break through from Thomas Argento. The Acton, MA native buried a wrist shot from the left circle, snapping it home over goaltender Sebastian Couturier's shoulder at 5:02 mark.
Cooper Ireland scored three minutes later to make it 2-0. The freshman, who once called Norway Savings Bank Arena his home rink when playing for the Twin City Thunder, capitalized on a turnover in the slot, deking to his backhand before tucking it home.
The Mustangs got on the comeback trail midway through the frame. Evan Knowlton scored the first of the new season for CMCC with 10:45 left in the period on a power play. The alternate captain whipped a wrister past Jake Hirsch's blocker from the right circle, off a great feed from Mikita Kalymkov. Aaron Higgins picked up the secondary assist.
After another UMaine penalty The Mustangs went to work once more. Diego Alonso blasted a slap shot from the right wing that his Hirsch right between the eyes, snapping off the straps on his mask. The puck caromed off Jakob Johnson right to Colby Pawson in the slot who swept it home. The sophomore from Messalonskee High School made it 2-2 at the 14:38 mark.
Central Maine wasn't done yet. With 1:23 left before the intermission, the power play unit scored its third of the frame. A Higgins snap shot was blocked by Andrew Grenier, injuring the UMaine defenseman in the process. As he tried to get to the bench for a change, Higgins capitalized on the empty space, cutting in from the left point and putting a shot low under the glove for a 3-2 lead. It was the Falmouth High School product's first in a Mustangs jersey having spent his freshman season playing for Liberty University. Kalymkov and captain Zach Mitton picked up the helpers on the tally.
CMCC went to work on an insurance marker early in the third. With 5:07 gone, Lukas Sargolini centered a pass for Johnson on a two-on-one. The puck deflected back to him off the post at the right side with a wide open net to aim at, which the Cheshire, CT native did not miss. Pawson picked up the secondary assist and the Mustangs were in business with a 4-2 lead to protect.
The Black Bears would pull one back with a power play strike of their own. Ireland received a nifty behind-the-back pass in the right circle, sniping a wrist shot up over the glove and under the crossbar with 12:42 left.
That would be as close as they would get it however, with Couturier shutting the door the rest of the way to finish with 20 saves. The Mustangs nearly added an empty netter in the final minute, only for a full length by Heath McLean to clank off the post. CMCC finished the night 3-for-8 on the power play.
Central Maine next takes on the University of New Hampshire ACHA squad, as part of a four-game home stanza to begin the season. The Mustangs and Wildcats face off on Friday, September 27th at 6:40 pm.
