BOSTON — The University of Maine men’s hockey team cannot match the skill and speed of Boston College.

Maine skated at times with the Eagles but suffered too many breakdowns Saturday night as Boston College enjoyed a 4-1 victory at Conte Forum.

“The best 60 minutes of hockey we’ve played all year,” Boston College Coach Jerry York said. “We were sharp, emotionally and physically involved.”

Maine Coach Red Gendron wished he could have said the same. Asked about his team’s effort, he sighed, then thought for 10 seconds.

“With certain guys the effort was very good,” Gendron said. “Certain other guys, nowhere near enough.”

Gendron referenced players who “did a fair amount of gliding … we didn’t play well enough to win.”

It was a pointless weekend following Friday’s 3-2 overtime loss at Boston University. Maine (3-9-1, 2-5 in Hockey East) has lost five straight.

Twelfth-ranked Boston College improved to 7-5, 3-3.

Destry Straight had two goals and an assist for the Eagles.

Blaine Byron scored for Maine, short-handed in the first period. Sean Romero made 23 saves.

While Boston College only outshot Maine 27-23, the Eagles dominated in chances, 53-35.

“We had the puck a lot,” York said.

Boson College scored first with a three-on-two rush midway through the first period. Chris Calnan passed it to Straight in the slot and he slid it to Teddy Doherty at the far post. He buried it at 9:35.

Gendron wasn’t pleased with the odd-man rush.

“We get a shot blocked at the point. The player who got the shot blocked needed to come back,” Gendron said. “I have the utmost respect for the transition game of Boston College, but that’s one we gift-wrapped.”

The Eagles went on the power play minutes later, but Maine forwards Cam Brown and Byron were pesky penalty killers in the Boston College zone.

Brown took a shot. It was blocked, but Brown got possession back and zipped it toward the crease, where Byron poked it in for a 1-1 game at 11:57. It was the second straight night Maine scored short-handed – but the Black Bears had only one five-on-five goal for the weekend.

Boston College took the lead for good early in the second period. With the puck behind Maine’s net, too many Black Bears went after it, leaving Straight alone outside the crease. Adam Gilmour passed it out to Straight for the easy goal at 1:38 and a 2-1 Eagles lead.

At 5:11, Straight sizzled a shot from atop the right circle and Romero didn’t see it in time. Boston College led 3-1.

The Eagles made it 4-1 at 2:51 of the third with a two-on-one rush. Alex Tuch faked the pass, then scored.

NOTES: Stu Higgins, a senior forward from Troy, Michigan, played his 100th game for the Black Bears. … The Black Bears return to Alfond Arena next weekend for a two-game series against Vermont. Maine lost two games to the Catamounts two weeks ago in Burlington. … Maine will face Boston College Jan. 18 in Orono.