GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine Huskies and the Bowdoin College Polar Bears skated to a 3-3 overtime tie Tuesday night in a non-conference men's ice hockey game at the USM Ice Arena.

            The tie leaves Southern Maine with a 4-5-1 overall record heading into their end-of-the-semester exam break and the holidays.  Bowdoin moves to 5-3-2 overall.

            The Huskies took a 3-2 lead early in the third period as sophomore Zach Dymock (Dutton, Ont.) stuffed home a pass from classmate Tyler Simmons (Ogdensburg, N.Y.) for his first goal of the season.  Junior Stephen Gallo (Barnstead, N.H.) picked up the other assist.

            Junior Connor Quinn (Sudbury, Mass.) got the equalizer for the Polar Bears at 15:09 of the period beating USM sophomore goalie Josh Hillegas (Middleton, Wis.) from the left-wing circle.  Sophomore Matt Rubinoff (Oakville, Ont.) had the lone assist.

            In the five-minute overtime, the Polar Bears had the best opportunity to score as Hillegas stopped a shot and senior Colin Downey (East Sandwich, Mass.) hit the post on the rebound.  The Polar Bears had a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal in the extra session.

            Bowdoin took a 2-1 lead in a fast-paced first period on a power-play goal from senior Harry Matheson (Kingston, Ont.) at 7:19 and a last-minute tally from rookie Kendall Culbertson (Laguna Niguel, Calif.).  Southern Maine countered with a power-play tally from Gallo at 8:52.

            Matheson buried a shot from the right-wing circle for his fifth goal of the season after taking a pass from Downey.  Gallo tied the game for USM with a shot from the left-wing circle after receiving a pass from senior Mike Greene (Arvada, Colo.).  Culbertson restored the Polar Bears' lead with 49 seconds to play in the period off a feed from rookie Zach Kokosa (Aurora, Ill.).

            Junior Lorne Miller (Montreal, Que.) had the only goal of the middle period to get the Huskies even at 2-2.  Miller took a pass from behind the net by junior Ryan Seward (Port Jefferson, N.Y.) and fired a wrist shot past Bowdoin junior goalie Max Fenkell (Meadowbrook, Pa.) for his second marker of the season.

            Southern Maine finished the game with a 34-33 edge in shots on goal.  Hillegas made 30 saves between the pipes for the Huskies while Fenkell stopped 31 shots at the other end.

            The Huskies are off until January 3-4 when they participate in the Holiday Classic at Middlebury College.  The Huskies face Neumann College in the first round.  The Polar Bears return to action on January 7 when they host the University of New England. 

-ble-