The Central Maine Community College men’s hockey team showed some fight when Missouri scored goals in pairs, but the Mustangs couldn’t muster enough scores of their own in a 6-3 loss at the ACHA national tournament Friday night in Marylan Heights, Missouri.

The Mustangs fell to 0-2 in pool play at the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s Division III nationals. They round out pool play Saturday at 3:15 p.m. against Michigan State.

The Tigers, now 2-0 in pool play, took control just past the midway point of the opening period. Ethan DeGroat opened the scoring on the power play, then lit the lamp again less than three minutes later for a 2-0 lead.

Lewiston grad Evan Knowlton answered for the Mustangs off an assist from Falmouth’s Zach Mitton 38 seconds after that to make it 2-1 game heading into the first intermission.

Missouri stretched its lead to 4-1 just over five minutes into the second period on goals less than two minutes apart. DeGroat fed Mason Budde for the Tigers’ third goal, then Danny Rudman scored unassisted.

Again CMCC responded within a minute, as Thornton Academy grad Diego Alonso cut it to 4-2 just 25 seconds after Rudman’s goal. Former Lewiston standout Luke Pomerleau and Winslow grad Cody Ivey assisted on Alonso’s goal.

Unfortunately for the Mustangs, Missouri took momentum right back. Aaron Hemmer, who assisted on DeGroat’s opening goal, made it a three-goal lead 35 seconds after Alonso’s goal.

Former Lewiston standout Michael Belleau scored CMCC’s final goal on the power play at the 12-minute mark of the second period. It was the Mustangs’ only time converting on the power play in eight chances. Missouri was 1 for 6 on the man-advantage.

Nick Spolec scored an empty-net goal in the final minute to cap the scoring for Missouri.

South Portland grad Sebastian Couturier made 36 saves for the Mustangs, while Jack Dobbs stopped 44 of 47 shots for the Tigers.

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