ESTERO, Fla. (AP) – J.B Bittner and Matt Beaudoin hit shots in the first period to clinch Ohio State’s 4-2 victory over Maine in the first-round of the Everblades Classic.

Ohio State (11-7-0, 8-5-0 CCHA) built an early lead and Bittner’s goal at 6:41 and Beaudoin’s second goal at 16:05 gave the team momentum fir the rest of the game.

Maine (12-2-1,6-2-1 HE) came back from three goals down in the third with goals from Jon Jankus and Dustin Penner, but it wasn’t enough.

The Buckeyes scored in the second in a power play eight seconds into the period as Dave Steckel took a shot from the left circle into the empty net to make it 3-0.

Then at 11:30, Ohio State scored on a power play when Doug Andress took a slapshot from the top of the right circle that got past Doyle.

Jon Jankus put Maine on the scoreboard 21 seconds into in the third. Dustin Penner added another goal at 4:33 to cut OSU’s lead to 3-2.

But Scott May scored on a breakaway with 35 seconds remaining to clinch the win.

Maine, ranked third in the nation, plays Notre Dame at 1:05 p.m. Sunday in the consolation game.

Skidmore 3, USM 1

BOSTON – Sophomore Tommy Spinella scored a power-play goal in the second period to snap a 1-1 tie and send Skidmore College to a 3-1 victory over the University of Southern Maine in the first round of the 39th Annual

Codfish Bowl Saturday afternoon.

The Huskies (3-5-0) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when freshman Bobby Siers netted his second goal of the season on an assist from freshman Mark Carragher at the 42 second mark. Thoroughbred (2-4-0) goalie Mike Mansfield prevented the Huskies from repeating the feat with 19 saves over the next 59 minutes.

Junior Tripp Egan provided Skidmore an insurance goal at 1:59 of the final period on assists from junior Ryan Yost and freshman Taylor McKenna.