GORHAM, Maine—Tyler Gardiner scored midway through overtime to lift host University of Southern Maine past UMass Boston men's hockey 2-1 in New England Hockey Conference play on Saturday afternoon at the USM Ice Arena. 
 
THE BASICS
University of Southern Maine 2, UMass Boston 1 (OT) 
(UMass Boston 11-7-1, New England Hockey Conference 7-4) 
(University of Southern Maine 5-6-1, New England Hockey Conference 3-4-1) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The two sides traded power-play goals within a minute span of the first period only to stay tied for the final 43:56 of regulation. 
 
Southern Maine started the extra session on a 4-on-3 overtime for 51 seconds but the Beacons were able to get a kill. 
 
The teams went to 3-on-3 from their on out with both sides creating one significant chance. 
 
Senior Chris Peters (Fairport, N.Y.) darted to the net but couldn't sneak his backhand shot past Mason Palmer. On the ensuing rush, Connor McAnanama (Agawam, Mass.) made an initial stop on Gardiner's shot, but the senior dove and tipped in the rebound on a scramble in front. 
 
Peters scored the Beacons lone goal of the contest off of assists from freshmen Ty Mathews (Auburn, Mass.) and Nolan Barrett (Wayne, N.J.).
 
In net, McAnanama made 22 saves on 24 shots in his first start of 2022. 
 
Azam Jiwa scored the first goal for the visitors with Curtis Judd picking up a pair of assists. 
 
Southern Maine freshman Mason Palmer made 36 saves on 37 shots to earn the victory. 
 
Southern Maine opened the scoring at 15:27 of the first period when Jiwa scored a power-play goal off assists from Cole Ouellette and Curtis Judd. 
 
The Beacons answered back 37 seconds later, when Peters scored on the power-play. 
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• UMass Boston outshot the Huskies 37-24 in the contest. Southern Maine earned a 34-32 edge in face-offs. 
• Southern Maine's win snapped a seven-game Beacons' winning streak over the Huskies. UMass Boston leads the all-time series 23-20-1. 
• After not scoring a goal in six-straight games, Peters posted three goals and an assist this weekend. 
• Both teams finished 1-3 on the power-play. 

WHO'S NEXT 
 
UMass Boston will host #8 Elmira College on Friday night at 7 p.m. in New England Hockey Conference play.