NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. —  Bodies were banging into each other in front of the Merrimack crease in the last seconds of overtime.

The puck was loose. University of Maine senior Spencer Abbott reached and poked it in.

But as the Black Bears were raising their sticks, referee Tim Benedetto was crisscrossing his hands.

No goal.

After a lengthy review, Benedetto’s call held and Maine had to settle for a 2-2 tie with Merrimack on Saturday at Lawler Arena. Maine led 1-0 and 2-1 but could not hold the lead.

The Black Bears (10-8-3, 7-7-2), who lost a 6-2 decision here on Friday, earned one point this weekend. Merrimack is now 12-4-5, 8-3-3.

Brian Flynn and Joey Diamond scored for Maine. Freshman defenseman Jacob Rutt of Scarborough recorded his first collegiate point with an assist. Goalie Dan Sullivan made 32 saves.

The Black Bears outshot the Warriors 41-34.

But the biggest play came with 27 seconds left in overtime. Benedetto had blown his whistle. Was it before the goal? The replay could not answer that.

“Apparently there was no audio, which is a shame because that’s a league rule,” Maine Coach Tim Whitehead said. “He (Benedetto) felt bad because, after watching it again, I’m sure he saw that the puck was still loose. Had (he) waited but it’s a game of inches. Things happen. (Benedetto) is a great guy and a great official.”

Maine took a 1-0 first-period lead on its first power play of the game. Mark Anthoine of Lewiston fired in a shot and Flynn stuffed the rebound in at 10:59.

In the second period, Merrimack’s Elliott Sheen stole the puck in Maine’s zone, skated in and beat Sullivan high to the far corner at 12:19, tying the game at 1.

Defensemen Nick Pryor and Rutt helped Maine take the lead back, assisting on Diamond’s goal at 16:30.

Merrimack got its first power play in the third period and scored nine seconds later when Jesse Todd went top shelf.

Then came overtime and the almost-goal.

“I don’t think the puck got in before the whistle,” Abbott said, “but I think the ref might have missed one. The goalie never had it. Nothing you can do about it.”

NOTES: Defenseman Kyle Williams of Bowdoinham and the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs verbally committed to Maine. Williams, 20, previously played for North Yarmouth Academy and Mt. Ararat High The Black Bears will play host to Boston College for two games next weekend.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: KevinThomasPPH

 

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