Orono, ME – Junior Matt Mangene doesn’t score often, but when he does he has a knack for scoring when it matters most.

Mangene, with two of his four career goals being game-winners, scored just 23 seconds into the third period to lift the University of Maine men’s ice hockey team to a 3-1 victory against Providence College, sweeping the weekend series.

“It was huge to come home and get a weekend sweep,” said an excited Mangene.

The Friars (2-3-1, 2-2-0 Hockey East) have now lost six straight games to the Black Bears (3-2-1, 3-1 Hockey East).

With the game tied at 1-1 and Maine and Providence skating on a four-on-four, the Black Bears wasted little time in getting the go ahead goal as Mangene snapped a wrister over Friars goalie Alex Beaudry.

“It was a game changing point,” said Mangene. “We knew with myself, Flynn, O’Neill and Abbott we could jump out to the offensive zone. We did and Flynn made a nice pass and I put it home.”

It took nearly 11 minutes to get the game’s first goal. Kyle Beattie dished the puck to Adam Shemansky and the left-winger threw a wrist shot on net that Beaudry lost over his blockerside.

“My linemates Kyle Beattie and Jon Swaverly did a good job movie the puck forward,” replied Shemansky. “I was surprised there was so much room in the middle of the ice and I just came at it (the puck) and I just wanted to get a quick shot off.”

The Friars fired back with a goal of their own only two minutes later when Maine goaltender Dan Sullivan made a great diving save on a wraparound chance, but the puck took a bounce to Damian Cross with an open net to score.

After Mangene’s goal in the second period, Maine shut down Providence as Sullivan stepped when call upon, making 26 saves in the win.

The Black Bears add an insurance marker from Klas Leidermark with one second left on the clock to give Maine a 3-1 lead. Mangene was credited with an assist to go with his game-winning goal.

“It was a good hockey game,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead. “It was a real good series. Every puck was highly contested and both teams went hard. Fortunately, we earned the points.”