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http://www.pressherald.com/sports/college/hockey/030215umhockey.shtml

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                     Saturday, February 15, 2003

                                            Friars collect one for the ages


                        By   KEVIN THOMAS, Portland Press Herald Writer

                      Copyright  2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.





 ORONO  --  University of Maine hockey coach Tim Whitehead normally takes about five minutes to talk to his team after a game. Twenty five minutes after Providence College beat Maine 5-1 Friday night, the Black Bears locker room door remained closed.

   Whitehead eventually emerged, though his players were heads-down quiet. Whitehead said only two of his players competed well.

    "We need our guys to play with the type of passion that a Marty Kariya and a Cliff Loya show," Whitehead said. "If we have everyone playing with that type of focus and competitiveness, then we're in business. I told them that, and I told them some other things that I won't repeat."

    Once unbeaten in its own rink and considered top dog in the nation, Maine is showing little bite. Providence College, a team that has not won at Alfond Arena since 1989, stunned 4,748 Alfond customers.

   The Friars won their fourth straight game by scoring twice in the first four minutes and taking a 3-0 first-period lead. Providence took advantage of turnovers and Maine's defensive lapses in front of the net. Maine did not take advantage, including 1 for 8 on the power play. The two teams play again tonight at 7.

   Maine, currently ranked No. 2 in the nation - after a stint at No. 1 - dropped to 22-5-4, and fell out of first place in Hockey East with a 12-4-3 league record. Boston College took over sole possession of first with a 3-2 overtime win over Merrimack. Providence improved to 17-12-1, 10-9-1. New Hampshire moved into a tie with Maine.

   The Black Bears, who had a 28-game unbeaten streak at home broken last weekend, are now 2-3-1 in their last six games.

    "This is good for us," Whitehead said. "It's good for our guys to see how hard an effort it's going to take to elevate our game."

   Providence was 0-23-1 in its last 24 games here.

   "It was a gorilla on our backs," Providence senior captain Jon DiSalvatore said. "It's a great win and a huge relief."

    Providence came out flying, outhitting, outskating and outshooting the Black Bears. Jason Bloomingburg scored on a rebound at 1:46, which was followed by a nifty give-and-go, 2-on-1 break by Peter Fregoe and Devin Rask, with Fregoe scoring at 3:38. Maine goalie Jimmy Howard then gave up another rebound goal, by Fregoe at 9:06.

    "Jimmy was fine," Whitehead said, "but we have to protect our goalies and not let people get opportunities right in front of the net."

   Maine outshot Providence 31-19 the rest of the game but, Loya said, "we didn't play with heart until our backs were against the wall, and that won't do it."

   In the second period, Maine notched a power-play goal. Kariya passed to Robert Liscak at the point. He fed Lucas Lawson on the far side, and Lawson easily scored, awakening the Alfond crowd at 14:10.

   The Black Bears seemed to pick up the pace and the fans responded with a standing ovation. But the Friars  crushed the rally at 18:33 when Mike Robinson got free outside the crease and deflected a slap shot past Howard for a 4-1 lead.

   In the third period, DiSalvatore scored a power-play goal on his own rebound, at 6:08.

   NOTES: Liscak's assist gives him membership into the 100-points club, the 41st Maine player to score 100 points in a career.

   Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at: [log in to unmask]