ORONO, Maine – Despite a solid performance in net by Olivier Mantha, the Maine Black Bears picked up their first win of the season when they handed the No.20-ranked Alaska Anchorage Seawolves their first loss of the short season with a 3-1 victory at Alfond Arena on Friday.

After the teams skated with a 1-1 score for 45 minutes, the Seawolves dropped to 3-1-1 when they allowed the Black Bears (1-4-0) to score in the final four minutes of play and again with the empty-netter with 10.7 left, returning the favor from UAA's 3-1 home win in the season opener.

Delivering a career- and team-high 37-save night, Mantha (La Tuque, Quebec) kept UAA in the game, stopping a season-high 16 shots in the first period. The difference maker for the Seawolves, Mantha, falls to 2-1-0 on the season, while sporting a .946 save percentage and a 1.67 goals-against average.

The Seawolves – who were playing on hostile ice for the first time – struck first when senior Austin Coldwell, UAA's leader from the blueline a year ago, picked up his first tally of the season at 9:33 on the man advantage.  Senior forwards Brett Cameron and Scott Allen picked up the helpers.

Less than a minute later at 10:19, Maine's Jake Rutt furnished his first collegiate goal, knotting the game until the game-winning goal by Eric Schurhamer at 15:58 of the final stanza.

With 2:02 left in the game, the Seawolves received a gift when Rutt headed to the box for holding, but the Black Bears were able to keep the Seawolves from setting up, including holding UAA off for 31 seconds when Mantha was on the bench for the extra attacker.

The Black Bear's Cam Brown collected with empty-net strike with 19:50 left in regulation.

UAA allowed a season-high 40 shots on goal, but peppered Matt Morris (33 saves) with a team-high 34 shots. The Seawolves were outshot in the first, 17-13, before leading in the second 12-9. Maine led once again in the third, 14-9.

Rematch is scheduled tomorrow evening at 3:05 p.m. ADT.