Auburn, ME – CMCC Men's Hockey kept its winning streak alive after gutting out a 5-4 overtime victory at Worcester Polytechnic Institute to complete a three-in-three weekend. Braden Gagnon was the hero for the #7 ranked Mustangs, who have now won nine games in a row, tied for the longest streak in program history. The team did allow a goal for the first time in six games, ending their shutout streak at 5:18:02.
Aaron Higgins gave Central Maine the lead after just 5:43 with assists from linemates Sam Foley and Dylan Blue. It was the 100th point in a Mustangs jersey for the alternate captain out of Falmouth, ME; the first CMCC player to reach that milestone for the program.
That 1-0 lead lasted a little less than three minutes when Avery Reed broke through for the visitors. The goal scored on Cam Wickens was the first the freshman netminder had allowed since November 1st against Jefferson Community College. The Revere, MA native's own shutout streak ended after four hours, 18 minutes, and two seconds having sat out the UConn game.
It stayed 1-1 heading into the second period. Foley struck twice in the middle frame, first on a goal at the 5:24 mark, and later in the period with 2:56 remaining. His second tally came on the power play assisted by Zach Mitton and Cody Dionne.
Fatigue became a factor for the Mustangs in the third period with the team playing their third game in as many days on the weekend. WPI cut it to a one-goal game when Robert Shumway found the net after 3:33.
Higgins scored his second of the game and 16th of the year to restore the cushion at 4-2, but the Engineers still tied things up before the end of regulation. Garrett Bolan made it 4-3 just before the midway point of the period. Cameron Chirco then scored with 5:44 left in the game to force overtime.
Staring down the barrel of their first loss in a month, Gagnon came through with the heroics. The eighth goal of the campaign for the defenseman from Lewiston, ME won the game just 1:36 into the extra frame. Gagnon now leads all blue liners on the team in goals and is tied for fourth in scoring overall.
Central Maine now gets a break following their busy early-season schedule, not playing again until December 5th when they visit the rival Thomas College Terriers. The Mustangs do not play on home ice until the new year, when they host the Terriers on January 23rd.
