Huskies Host Johnson & Wales on Friday (7 p.m.)

            WATERVILLE, Maine -- The Colby College Mules used a four-goal second period outburst, keyed by a pair of goals from sophomore Michael Morrissey (Bethlehem, Pa.), to build a 5-1 lead, then held off a third-period comeback bid by the University of Southern Maine Huskies to take a 5-3 victory Tuesday night in a non-conference men's game at Alfond Rink.

            The win snapped a six-game winless stretch (0-4-2) for the Mules, and improved their record to 6-9-2.  The Huskies dropped their third straight game to slide to 5-12-3.

            Down 5-1 heading into the third period, the Huskies got goals from sophomore Jesse Kestenbaum (Montreal, Quebec) and senior Ethan Bassile (Scarborough, Maine) in the opening 14 minutes to pull back within two (5-3), but that was as close as the Huskies would get.  Two minor penalties in the final four minutes hurt the Huskies comeback bid.  Kestenbaum's goal was the first of his collegiate career.

            The sides skated to a 1-1 tie in the opening period as junior Spencer Hewson (Vernon, B.C.) gave the Mules a 1-0 at 9:08, and junior Adam Papayoanou (Valencia, Calif.) countered for the Huskies with a power-play goal at 15:27.  Southern Maine had a 10-5 edge in shot on goal in the period.

            The momentum swung in the Mules favor in the middle period as the home side outshot the Huskies 17-5 in the period.  Morrissey ignited the Mules' four-goal second period explosion with his third marker of the season 32 seconds into the period.  Senior J.P. Schuhlen (Longmeadow, Mass.) gave the Mules a two-goal cushion with a power-play goal at 4.55.  Morrissey's second goal of the period, coming at 10:51, proved to be the game winner.  Rookie Alex Bourhas (L'Ile-Bizard, Quebec) made it 5-1 at 15:40.

            Colby finished the game with a 34-25 advantage in shots on goal.  Junior goalie Joe MacDonald (Westford, Mass.), making his first appearance of the season, stopped 22 shots in the Colby net to earn his first collegiate win.  Senior Paul Léger (Blainville, Quebec) made 29 saves for the Huskies before being lifted in the final minute for the extra attacker.

            The Huskies converted on 2 of 3 power-play opportunities while the Mules were successful on 1 of 5 man-advantage opportunities.

            Morrissey (two goals) and Hewson (one goal, one assist) led the Mules with two points.  Kestenbaum (one goal, one assist) paced the Huskies' attack.

            Southern Maine returns home on Friday (7 p.m.) to host Johnson and Wales University for a New England Hockey Conference games.  Colby travels to in-state rival Bowdoin College for a NESCAC game on Saturday (7 p.m.).

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