ORONO — Six of one. Half a dozen of the other.

Either way, it adds up to one dismal stretch of hockey for Maine.

The Black Bears dropped their sixth straight game Friday, falling 6-3 to Vermont at Alfond Arena. It was the most goals the Black Bears have allowed this season. And it was also the sixth consecutive loss Maine has suffered at the hands of the Catamounts.

No. 13 Vermont (10-3-1, 7-3-1 Hockey East) scored 2:12 into the game when Maine goaltender Matt Morris made a pad save on a Jake Fallon shot, but couldn’t slide over in time to prevent Kevin Irwin from slamming home the rebound.

The Black Bears (3-10-1, 2-5) were having trouble generating chances until sophomore wing Brian Morgan forced the action. He picked up a turnover at the Vermont blue line and skated in on two defenders, snapping off a wrist shot as he sprawled to the ice that went into the net over Brody Hoffman’s right shoulder at 11:30 of the period.

Morgan’s hustle was instrumental in Maine’s second goal as well. His shot from the left of the net was stopped, but the Black Bears kept the puck alive and eventually Morgan skated to the right of the crease and slid a loose puck past Hoffman for a 2-1 lead at 15;36.

Vermont took control in the second period. Mario Puskarish scored at 5:28 and 6:39 of the frame. In between, Maine’s Connor Leen fired a slapshot from a sharp angle below the left circle that eluded Hoffman.

Vermont got goals from Mike Paliotta and Jarrid Privitera late in the period to take a 5-3 lead heading into the final 20 minutes. Maine has been outscored 23-8 in second periods. Maine Coach Red Gendron pulled Morris for Sean Romeo in the third period. Vermont greeted him with a well-executed two-on-one break, with Irwin feeding Fallon for a goal 30 seconds into the third period.

The teams conclude the nonconference series here at 7 p.m. Saturday.