Gorham, ME – The University of Southern Maine men’s ice hockey team dropped their third straight game of the season, 6-4, to New England College in Non-Conference action at USM Ice Arena on Saturday night.

Southern Maine won their season opener to St. Michael College, but have since lost to Norwich, Colby and New England College.

The Huskies were outshot in the first period 13-4, but jumped out to a 2-0 lead just past the halfway mark in the period.

At 4:31, Jon Rutt scored his first goal of the season, while on the power play, beating NEC goalie Connor Sampson.

Less than two minutes later, Senior Pat Noonan fired a shot by Sampson at 6:13 of the period.

New England College stormed back in a span of 5:22, scoring three goals, taking a 3-2 lead into the locker room after 20 minutes of play.

At 4:37, Zach Joy tied the game at 3-3 when he redirected a shot by Sampson with a power play goal, but it was short lived as Alex Muse notched a power play goal of his own as New England College regained the one goal lead at 6:45 of the second period.

At 11:07, Southern Maine had a brilliant chance to tie the game with a penalty shot attempt after Dan Rautenburg was hauled down on a breakaway, but his shot wide kept NEC in front with a one goal lead.

With 3:24 left to play in the period, Noonan tied the game at 4-4 when he pounced on a rebound in front of the net, beating Sampson past the inside post.

At 11:43 of the third period, New England College regained the lead, 5-4, for good when Jeff Armando scored his second goal of the game, rifling a shot through a screen that deflected off a skate in front of Mason St. Hillaire.

Mark Ehl tacked on an empty net goal with 42 seconds left in the game, sealing the victory 6-4 for New England College.

St. Hillaire playing his first meaningful hockey in nearly two years, stopping 45 of 50 shots in the loss, while Connor Sampson made 22 saves for New England College first victory of the season.