PORTLAND, MAINE—Southern Maine (5-5) got a hat trick from Troy Thibodeau in a 7-3 victory over the SUNY Potsdam men's hockey team (4-7) on Friday afternoon in Portland. Three different Bears scored for Potsdam.

Zach Dymock gave the Huskies a 1-0 lead just 1:09 into the first period. Thibodeau notched his first at the 8:00 mark. Angelo Vrachnas scored on the man-advantage 10 minutes later and Southern Maine took a 3-0 lead into the break.

David Nies buried the eventual game-winner at 10:27 of the second period. Less than four minutes later, Garrett White made it 5-0. After the goal, Bears junior goalie Shane Talarico was replaced by freshman Austin Keiser. Potsdam trailed 5-0 after two.

Nearly six minutes into the third period, Thibodeau scored a shorthanded marker for a 6-0 Huskie advantage. At the 7:39 mark, freshman forward Jake Rivera finally got the Bears on the board with an unassisted goal. Freshman forward Billy Pascalli made it a 6-2 contest at 10:08 with helpers from sophomore forward Trevor Cope and junior assistant captain Adam Place. Thibodeau completed his hat trick 2:08 later and Southern Maine regained its five-goal lead. Sophomore Ryan Miller closed the scoring with 1:01 remaining on assists from sophomore defenseman Dan McCamey and freshman forward Todd Thomas.

Talarico allowed five goals and made 22 saves in the first 34:07, while Keiser allowed the last two scores and finished with five saves in the final 25:53. Josh Hillegas made 29 saves to earn the victory.

The Bears and Huskies tangle again tomorrow at 1 p.m. to wrap up the first half of the season.