FINAL SCORE: No. 12 Vermont 4, Maine 1
ORONO, Maine – No. 12 Vermont went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill and Brady Shaw's second period power play goal held up for the game-winner as the Catamounts earned a 4-1 non-conference win over Maine on Saturday night to sweep the weekend and season series at Alfond Arena.

The Catamounts picked up their fourth straight win and improved to 11-3-1 (7-3-1 HEA), matching their best 15-game start since the 2005-06 season. The Black Bears suffered their seventh straight loss while falling to 3-11-1 (2-5-0 HEA).

Vermont received goals from four different players on the night, and Mike Santaguida stopped 27 shots between the pipes. It marked the Catamounts' first weekend sweep at Alfond Arena since Feb. 27-28, 2009. UVM has won seven straight games in the series against Maine.

"I'm so proud of our guys. This is such a tough place to come into and get a win let alone a sweep," said head coach Kevin Sneddon. "I'm very proud of our mental toughness and our physical toughness. All in all, it was a real good effort from the net out."

UVM struck first for the fourth straight game less than seven minutes into the first period as Mike Stenerson set up Mike Paliotta for a shot at the left point. Sean Romeo made the initial save, but Colin Markison tipped the puck to Mario Puskarich and he poked in the loose puck for his third tally of the weekend.
 
Maine answered to knot the score just 64 seconds later on an outside shot from Eric Schurhamer at the left point. Steven Swavely deflected the wrister down to the ice and through the pads of Santaguida as the puck trickled across the goal line at 7:52. The goal was initially waved off by the officials but then confirmed by video review.
 
Markison nearly restored the lead minutes later but hit the outside of the left post with a backhander off a centering pass from Puskarich. The Black Bears were called for simultaneous minor penalties with 1:12 remaining in the period, but the Catamounts couldn't capitalize on the 5-on-3 before the first intermission.
 
Puskarich began the second by ringing the left post with a wrister from the left circle, and Maine killed off the remaining time on the two-man advantage. Cedric Lacroix was handed a five-minute major and game misconduct for contact to the head at 11:20 to give the Catamounts an extended power play.
 
Markison set up Rob Hamilton for a point shot from the right side and Shaw collected the rebound below the goal line. The sophomore came out in front at the right doorstep and stuffed the puck into the net to give Vermont a 2-1 cushion. Jake Fallon nearly netted a second tally on the major from the left doorstep but his attempt was blocked over the crossbar.
 
With a delayed penalty coming against UVM in the closing seconds of the frame, Dan Renouf fired a one-timer from the right circle off the left post and into the net. The play was reviewed and the puck was ruled to have crossed the goal line a split second after the buzzer.
 
The Catamounts killed off the Maine power play effectively to start the third and grabbed an insurance goal just 47 seconds after the penalty expired. Rob Darrar collected the puck below the goal line and skated toward the back of the net. The rookie centered a pass into the left circle to Jarrid Privitera, who one-timed a quick shot under the crossbar for a 3-1 advantage. Dan Senkbeil added the second assist on the play.
 
UVM kept the Black Bears in check on two more power plays in the third and maintained the two-goal lead into the final minutes. Anthony Petruzzelli slid home an unassisted empty-netter from outside the blue line with 1:29 left to put the game away.

The Cats out-shot the Black Bears 44-28, including a 12-shot edge in the final 40 minutes, and registered 25 shots on goal during their seven power plays. Romeo made 40 saves in a losing effort for Maine.
 
Vermont is idle next weekend before closing the first half of the season with a home-and-home series against former ECAC rival St. Lawrence on Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13. The Catamounts host the Saints on Friday at 7:05 p.m. before traveling to Appleton Arena in Canton, New York on Saturday at 7 p.m.
 
The home game will be streamed online for free in HD via CatamounTV.com, and both games can be heard on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the Dec. 12 home game are available online at UVMathletics.com/Tickets, in person at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office in Patrick Gym, or over the phone by calling 802-656-4410.