WATERVILLE, Maine -- Junior Adam Withers (Kenora, Ont.) scored midway through the second period to break a 1-1 tie and help the University of Southern Maine Huskies gain their second straight win with a 2-1 decision over the Colby College Mules Saturday afternoon at the Jack Kelley Rink.
            The win lifts the Huskies to 2-1 for the abbreviated 2021 season.  The Mules dropped their third straight to slip to 0-3 on the campaign.  The two teams are scheduled to meet again next Saturday at the USM Ice Arena.
            Withers, the Huskies leading scorer the past two seasons, gave the visitors the lead for good when he converted from senior Adam Papayoanou (Valencia, Calif.) and sophomore Curtis Judd (Saco, Maine) at 12:31.  The goal was the first of the season for Withers.
            The Huskies took a 1-0 lead at 11:23 of the first period as junior Tyler Gardiner (Watertown, Mass.) scored on the power play, assisted by junior Derek Tillotson (Bow, N.H.).  With five seconds remaining in the period, Colby would equalize while on the power play.  Rookie Henry Molson (Montreal, Quebec) scored on a slap shot after taking a feed from junior Brian Sanzone (Schaumburg, Ill.).  Colby had a 14-11 edge in shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes.
            After Withers' goal gave the Huskies the 2-1 lead, both sides had a pair of power-play opportunities over the final 27 minutes.  USM had two power plays in the opening eight minutes of the third period, but could not add to its lead.  Colby finished the second period on the power play, and had another man advantage for 1:37 in the third, but could not find a tying goal.
            Sophomore Gabriel Couture (Boucherville, Quebec) was busy in the USM net stopping 44 shots, including 16 in the final period.  Freshman CJ Hapward (West Caldwell, N.J.) made 27 saves before being pulled with 1:31 to play in favor of the extra attacker.  Colby piled up a 45-29 edge in shots on goal in the game.