Another Kariya Comes Through for Maine

The name had a familiar ring to it. Come to think of it, that pretty move down the left flank and centering flip for what turned out to be the game-winning goal looked like something we’ve seen before, too.

In a nanosecond, Maine freshman Steve Kariya proved he can make an eye-catching play just like his brother, Paul.

With Paul watching from the press box, Steve Kariya set up the game-winning goal in the Black Bears’ 4-3 victory over Michigan State in the finals of the Great Western Freeze-Out Sunday at The Pond.

Kariya fed a pass to Shawn Wansborough, who beat Michigan State goalie Chad Alban for a 4-2 Maine lead midway through the third period.

Michigan State’s Tony Tuzzolino scored about four minutes later to cut the lead to 4-3.

“How fitting the winning goal was set up by a Kariya,” Maine Coach Shawn Walsh said after the Bears, the NCAA runner-up last season, won their second consecutive Freeze-Out title.

“Kariyas must feel comfortable in this building.”

Paul, who led the Bears to the 1993 NCAA championship, was the Mighty Ducks’ leading scorer last season.

Michigan State took a 1-0 lead, then lost it when Maine scored three goals in a little more than 11 minutes to start the second period. The Spartans (1-1) cut the lead to 3-2, but Kariya and Wansborough put the game out of reach for the Bears (2-0) midway through the third period.

Bear goalie Blair Allison stopped Richard Keyes on a penalty shot at the 6:16 mark of the second period. Allison was whistled for throwing his stick across the crease, trying to stop a bouncing puck that might have rolled into the net.

“Fortunately, the guy didn’t score,” Allison said of Keyes, who beat him on a breakaway for Michigan State’s first goal in the first period. “He made a good move [on the penalty shot], but I think I just got my foot on it.”

Moments later, Michigan State’s Chris Smith wheeled and fired a shot into the back of his own net. Credit for the goal went to Tim Lovell, his second of the game, and gave Maine a 2-1 lead.

In the consolation game, Tim Leahy scored two goals and Randy Robitaille had a goal and two assists to lead Miami of Ohio to a 7-1 victory over Boston College.