WATERVILLE VALLEY, N.H. - Senior Mike Stevens (Dover, N.H.) recorded a goal and an assist Saturday evening to lead the University of Southern Maine to a 4-2 come-from-behind victory over Plymouth State University in a non-conference men's ice hockey game at Waterville Valley Ice Arena.

         The Huskies, ranked eighth in this week's Division III national poll, remained undefeated at 8-0-1 while the upset-minded Panthers fall to 2-4-2.  The game was the final one of the first semester for both teams.

         Plymouth State started the game strong and scored the only two goals of the first period.  Freshman Bryan Horrigan (Brookfield, Wis.) put the Panthers on the board six minutes into the game, and classmate Seth McQuade (Manchester, N.H.) made it 2-0 with a power play goal at the 10:10 mark.  It was the second of the season for both Panthers.

         Southern Maine got both goals back in the second period.  Freshman Paul Conter (Woodbridge, Ont.) broke the ice for the Huskies with a power play goal at 1:45, and junior Kyle Smith (Auburn, Maine) notched the equalizer at 13:13.  USM dominated the middle frame in shots on goal, 12-3, and the game went to the third period tied at 2-2.

         Stevens, who assisted on Smith's tying goal, wasted little time in the third frame to give the Huskies the lead, scoring the eventual game-winner just 41 seconds in.  Junior Josh Giordani (Quincy, Mass.) added an insurance goal for the Huskies at the 5:15 mark to round out the scoring.

         PSU came back to have a 13-9 shot advantage in the third period, and USM finished with a 30-24 margin for the game.  Junior Jamie Gilbert (Lewiston, Maine) stopped 22 pucks to pick up the win for the Huskies, while senior Karl Helgesson (Lerum, Sweden) made 26 saves in the Panther goal.

         After a break for final exams and the holidays, PSU returns to the ice on Sunday, Jan. 6, at Becker College (8:35 p.m.)  CSC plays again on Friday, Jan. 4, at Colby College (7:00 p.m.)

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