WATERVILLE, Maine -- Junior goaltender Sam Parker (Cambridge, Mass.) stopped 41 shots, including 21 in the third period, to backstop the Colby College Mules to a 5-2 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in non-conference men's hockey action Tuesday evening at Alfond Rink.

            The win was the first of the season for the Mules who improved to 1-1-1 overall.  The Huskies slipped to 2-3 overall.  The two teams will meet again on January 7 at USM.

            Parker provided the difference keeping the Huskies at bay after spotting the visitors a 1-0 lead in the first period.  With Parker stifling the Huskies, his mates scored four consecutive goals to erase the one-goal deficit and build a 4-1 lead.

            Junior Stephen Gallo (Barnstead, N.H.) gave USM the early lead converting a set up from classmate Brad McGovern (Haverhill, Mass.) and sophomore Zach Dymock (Dutton, Ont.) at 7:24 of the opening period.

            The lead lasted less than two minutes as sophomore Tyler Lingel (South Glen Falls, N.Y.) tied the score with his first goal of the season.  The tie would last for the remainder of the period as USM piled up a 13-8 edge in shots on goal.

            Colby took the lead for good in the second period when senior Brendan Cosgrove (Exeter N.H.) scored a short-handed goal at 6:11.  Senior Ben Chwick (Purchase, N.Y.) earned the lone assist.  Freshman Colin Reilly (Pelham, N.Y.) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal off an assist from junior Nate Morgan (Hamilton, Mass.) at 13:18 to increase the Mules lead to 3-1.

            Junior Ray Zeek (Wallingford, Conn.) scored the Mules fourth straight goal netting a power-play marker at 3:00 of the third period.  The goal was the third of the season for Zeek.

            Southern Maine responded with a power-play goal from freshman Cole Klippenstein (Franklin, Tenn.) off assists from seniors Mike Greene (Arvada, Colo.) and Angelo Vrachnas (St. James, N.Y.).

            Junior Robert McCormick (Laconia, N.H.) closed the scoring with his first goal of the campaign at 17:38.

            Southern Maine finished the game with a 43-26 edge in shots on goal.  Sophomore goalie Josh Hillegas (Middleton, Wis.) made 21 saves for the Huskies.

            Southern Maine returns home to host the University of New England in an ECAC Men's East game on Friday (7:00 p.m.).  Colby hosts archrival Bowdoin College on Friday (7:00 p.m.).

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