ORONO, Maine – The No. 18 Boston University men's ice hockey team fell to Maine, 5-2, in the opener of a weekend series on Friday evening at Alfond Arena.

Freshmen Kasper Kotkansalo and Logan Cockerill recorded their first collegiate goals but it was not enough as the Terriers fell to 5-7-1 overall and 3-4-1 in Hockey East play.

Maine, which improved to 4-5-0 with a 2-3-0 conference mark, was bolstered by a 40-save performance by freshman goaltender Jeremy Swagman.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Terriers opened the scoring 7:50 into the game when Kotkansalo cleaned up a loose puck in the left slot.
• Maine tied the game exactly two-and-a-half minutes later on a power-play goal from the center point.  
• That started a run of three straight goals by the Black Bears, who scored at 4:37 and 7:06 of the second period to take a lead they would not relinquish.
• Some nice passing off a rush allowed BU to cut the Maine lead to 3-2 as Cockerill finished off a cross-slot pass by fellow freshman Shane Bowers at the 9-minute mark of the second.
• BU was unable to get another shot past Swayman despite recording 18 shots on goal in the final period.
• After a flurry of chances for the Terriers resulted in a shot hitting the right pipe followed by a rebound that was saved by Swayman's skate, the Black Bears were opportunistic on the other end, scoring on their first chance in a long while to go up 4-2 with 12:15 to play.
• The home team added an empty-netter with 1:52 left in regulation to create the 5-2 final.

GAME NOTES

• Sophomore Patrick Harper assisted on both BU goals.
• Cockerill picked up his first point as a Terrier, assisting on Kotkansalo's goal, before getting his goal in the second period.
• BU held a 42-28 shot advantage but went 0-for-6 on the power play against Maine's penalty kill, which ranked last in the nation entering the night.
• Redshirt sophomore Max Prawdzik made his second consecutive start and recorded 23 saves. 
• The loss snapped the Terriers' six-game win streak against the Black Bears as BU's senior class had swept three straight league series with them its first three seasons.    
• Freshman David Farrance had a game-high six shots.
• Maine's power play went 1-for-3 in the game.

UP NEXT

• The teams will both head south to meet again on Saturday (Nov. 18) in Portland, Maine, at Cross Insurance Arena.
• Game time is set for 7 p.m.