ORONO, Maine (Mar. 8, 2008) – Ben Holmstrom (Colorado Springs, Colo.) scored for the River Hawks, but the University of Maine defeated UMass Lowell, 2-1, in overtime at the Alfond Arena Saturday night.

The Black Bears improve to 13-18-3 overall and 9-15-3 in league play with the extra session victory. The River Hawks fall to 15-15-4 overall and 10-13-4 against Hockey East.

For the second straight night and sixth time in the last seven games the River Hawks scored first. Holmstrom got the goal at 3:25, his sixth of the season, from Kory Falite (Billerica, Mass.) and Ryan Blair (Ashburn, Va.).

Billy Ryan (Milton, Mass.) evened the score for Maine at 17:59 of the first period with his sixth goal of the year. Tanner House (Cochrane, Alb.) had the only assist on the goal.

Travis Ramsey (Lakewood, Calif.) netted the game-winner for the Black Bears at the 2:20 mark of overtime. Simon Danis-Pepin (Vaudreul-Dorion, Que.) picked up the assist on the game-winner.

The overtime victory is just the second of the year for Maine (2-2-3). UMass Lowell had its two-game overtime win streak snapped. UML finished the regular season 2-2-4 in overtime.

At 8:33 of the third period the River Hawks appeared to have taken the lead. Scott Campbell (Navan, Ont.) had the puck go in off him at the right side of the net. After a video review the goal was disallowed.

Ben Bishop (Des Peres, Mo.) made 20 saves to record his 13th win of the season. UML netminder Carter Hutton stopped 19 shots, but suffered his second straight defeat.

Maine was 1-for-2 on the power play on the night. UML was 0-for-2. Each team recorded 21 shots on goal in the contest.

Holmstrom’s goal for the River Hawks was his first even strength goal of the season. The sophomore captain’s first five goals of the year all came on the power play. The assist for Falite extends his point streak to four games. He has two goals and four assists during the streak.

“We played so hard and had multiple opportunities to extend our lead early,” said UML head coach Blaise MacDonald. “We failed to do that. Their goalie played well. Our power play hurt us a little bit. Having that goal called back was a major blow. At the end we had one of our players with a chance to get the puck out of the zone and didn’t do it. Those little things cost you.”

The River Hawks enter the 2008 Hockey East playoffs as the seventh-seed and play Boston University in the first round. Game times and dates are yet to be announced.