ORONO — The University of Maine men’s hockey team is headed for another losing season. But signs of progress would be nice.

The Black Bears got one Sunday, upsetting 17th-ranked Boston College 4-2 before 4,215 at Alfond Arena.

Jake Rutt and Devin Shore each recorded a goal and an assist, while freshman Sean Romeo made 34 saves.

The Black Bears improved to 8-15-1 overall, 3-7 in Hockey East. Boston College is 13-8-2, 6-5-2.

“Probably one of our bigger wins of the year,” said Rutt, a senior from Scarborough.

Forget the “probably.” It was unquestionably Maine’s biggest win this season.

“It demonstrates again that we can play with anybody,” Maine Coach Red Gendron said. “We just have to put together 60 minutes.”

Maine never trailed, taking a 2-0 lead in the second period and then responding each time Boston College got close.

“One thing we talk about is continuing to attack,” Gendron said.

Gendron also preaches effort from the start. In Friday’s 2-0 loss to UMass-Lowell, the Black Bears were flat in the first period and never recovered.

Boston College dominated early, keeping possession in Maine’s zone.

“The first five minutes they did carry the play and we were a little bit on our heels,” Gendron said. “But unlike the first period against Lowell, when we were on our heels the whole period, we got off our heels and started pressing the attack.”

While Maine was on its heels, Romeo kept the game scoreless.

“Really good goaltending,” Boston College Coach Jerry York said of Romeo. “Our failure to score in the first period … I thought we had some really good chances. We just couldn’t capitalize.”

Romero is now 5-10. He was solid throughout and made a couple sliding pad saves.

“I had a pretty good night,” Romeo said. “My teammates bailed me out some.”

After a scoreless first period, Shore got Maine going. He fought off a check and kept possession along the boards, then passed over to Rutt in the high slot. Rutt waited a moment and scored past Eagles goalie Thatcher Demko, who was screened, at 11:58.

“The guys did a good job getting in front,” Rutt said.

It was Rutt’s first goal since October.

“Jake kept the game simple,” Gendron said. “Moved the puck and did an awful lot for us.”

Four minutes later, Rutt sent in another wrister. Freshman Liam Pecararo redirected past Demoko at 16:11 for a 2-0 lead.

Boston College closed to within 2-1 at 1:57 of the third period when Michael Sit put in the rebound of his own shot.

The Eagles then got their fifth power-play opportunity at 8:59. But Rutt gained possession of the puck and drew a holding penalty to kill the Eagles’ advantage.

Seconds later, Shore won a faceoff back to defenseman Eric Schurhamer. Schurhamer’s shot was stopped, but Shore drilled in the rebound at 8:48, giving Maine a 3-1 lead.

Ryan Fitzgerald tipped in a goal at 16:02 for Boston College.

But Cam Brown helped restore the two-goal lead moments later when he was tripped but still got the puck to Cedric Lacroix in the slot. Lacroix scored at 17:07.

“We didn’t sit back,” Gendron said.

Maine next plays Friday against New Hampshire at Alfond Arena. The Eagles are home Wednesday against Merrimack.

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

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: KevinThomasPPH