Mark Anthoine walked away with the game-winner as the University of Maine men’s ice hockey team (5-6-1 Hockey East; 8-7-2 overall) played in a rare non-conference match-up against Hockey East opponent the University of Massachusetts Minutemen, earning a 5-2 win to claim it’s fifth Florida College Classic Championship.

In the second period, Massachusetts cut the lead in half 2-1 with the first goal of the period after only having three shots through thirty minutes of play, but with their fourth shot, they made Maine pay.

Minuteman T.J Syner separated himself from the Maine defense in the right circle and fired a quick shot, beating starting goaltender Dan Sullivan.

The Black Bears came right back to score its third goal of the night.

Anthoine, a native of Lewiston, scored with a quick one-time snapshot from in front of starter Kevin Boyle to retake a two-goal lead over the Minutemen, 3-1. The assist went to Adam Shemansky for setting up the play with a pass from behind the net. Kyle Beattie was also credited with an assists on the play.

Anthoine picked up his sixth goal of the season and his first game-winner of his career.

The Minutemen scored one last time, cutting into the Black Bear lead 3-2.

Maine regained its’ two-goal lead later in the third period after Matt Mangene scored to make it 4-2 with a hard wrister over Boyle’s gloveside from the right faceoff dot.

Flynn ended the night with empty net goal that put the game out of reach at 5-2.

In the first period, Maine jumped out to an early lead 3:04 in, when Maine’s Joey Diamond drilled a one-timer past Boyle.

Brian Flynn scored with an impressive shot from the bottom of the slot that went sailing over Boyle’s blocker to put Maine up, 2-0, with a pair of early goals.

Maine will go right back to Hockey East action next Wednesday when they face Vermont back at Orono’s Alfond Arena.