:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/21441187/g.0.jpeg)
Orono, Maine -- Red Gendron had two unsuccessful chances to win his first game as a collegiate head coach last weekend, but the extra wait until this weekend meant the chance to do it in front of the home crowd at Alfond Arena.
Junior forward Stu Higgins, playing in his first game of the season, potted two goals to give the Black Bears a 2-1 victory over Atlantic Hockey Association foe Bentley University on Saturday night in front of a homecoming crowd of 4,569.
It was the first multi-goal game of his collegiate career and first multi-point game since his rookie season. The Troy, Mich. native missed last weekend's games due to a groin pull. Higgins was centering the third line with Connor Leen on the left and Jon Swavely on the right. Leen, who missed a good chunk of last season with an illness, was credited with the helper on each of Higgins' tallies.
Maine outshot Bentley 35-25 on the night. Senior goaltender Martin Ouellette made 24 stops for his first win of the season.
After falling behind just over two minutes into the game, Andrew Gladiuk knotted the score for the Falcons. Bentley netminder Branden Komm made 33 saves in the tough luck loss.
Maine improved to 1-2 on the season and will take on UMass-Amherst in a pair of nonconference games at the Alfond Arena next weekend. Bentley dropped to 1-3 and will face Quinnipiac Tuesday night in Hamden, Conn.
Jeff Cox covers college and junior hockey, NCAA recruiting, NHL Draft prospects and the AHL for SBNation. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.