Box Score

PORTLAND, Maine - Despite getting 35 saves from junior goaltender Jordan Tibbett, the Mercyhurst University men's hockey team suffered a 2-1 setback at the University of Maine on Friday night in front of 4,650 fans at the Cumberland County Civic Center. The loss snapped the Lakers' three-game winning streak and dropped their overall record to 8-7-1 on the season. The Black Bears improved to 5-11-2 with the victory.

Mercyhurst dropped to 0-5-1 against Maine in the all-time series. Friday's game marked the first meeting between the two schools since the Black Bears swept the Lakers by the scores of 4-2 and 4-1 back on October 19 and 20, 2007.

Freshman Ryan Lomberg snapped a 1-1 tie with his third goal of the season at the 13:54 mark of the third period, beating Tibbett to give the Black Bears the 2-1 advantage. The Lakers were able to pull the junior netminder for nearly 90 seconds in the closing moments of regulation, but junior goaltender Martin Ouelette and the Maine defense kept Mercyhurst from getting the equalizer.

Senior Paul Chiasson scored the only goal for Mercyhurst with a power play goal at the 3:02 mark of the opening period, giving the Lakers a 1-0 lead. Junior defenseman Nick Jones took a shot from the point that was redirected by Chiasson in front of the Maine goal and past Ouelette into the back of the net for his third goal of the season. Sophomore Ryan Misiak added to his team lead in scoring with the other assist on the goal. Misiak now has 15 points this season - four goals and 11 assists.

Chiasson's goal was his first since tallying against Rensselaer back on November 16 - a span of eight games. It was his 43rd career goal and also gave him 90 points for his career.

The Black Bears would answer exactly six minutes later, at the 9:02 mark, on a goal by Joey Diamond. A faceoff win by Steven Swavely went right to the stick of Diamond, who then one-timed a shot past Tibbett for his fourth goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1.

The game would remain a 1-1 tie until Lomberg broke the deadlock with what proved to be the game-winner at the 13:54 mark of the third period. Kyle Beattie and Mike Cornell had the assists.

Maine outshot Mercyhurst 37-26 for the contest, including a 20-11 margin in the second period.

Tibbett was brilliant in defeat, stopping 35-of-37 Black Bear shots. His record fell to 3-4-0 on the season. In his last two starts, Tibbett has allowed just three goals on 80 shots (.963 save percentage). His last start was a 3-1 victory at Clarkson on December 15. Meanwhile, Tibbett's counterpart Martin Ouelette, a seventh-round draft pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2010 NHL draft, stopped 25-of-26 Mercyhurst shots to improve to 3-5-2 on the season.

Both teams were able to capitalize once on the power play on the night. Mercyhurst went 1-for-3 while Maine converted 1-of-4 opportunities.

The teams will conclude their weekend series on Saturday night at Alfond Arena on Maine's campus in Orono. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:07 p.m.