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Despite outshooting Niagara University in both games this weekend, the University of Maine women’s hockey team (6-10-4 overall, 1-5-2 in Hockey East) suffered two defeats at the hands of the Purple Eagles, 4-2 and 4-3.
“They score goals, we don’t. We can’t put it together,” UMaine head coach Rick Filighera said. “This has been the most frustrating season I’ve had here ever. It hasn’t been lack of work ethic other than the second period today.”
Sunday’s game saw the Black Bears get on the board first when senior captain Jarin Sjogren scored on a rebound from the point. Freshman Morgan Janusc and junior forward Meagan Aarts assisted on the goal.
In what would be the trend of the weekend, the Black Bears were unable to hold a lead. The Purple Eagles struck back 28 seconds later to tie the game at one when Valerie Hall found the back of the net.
The second period would be a total disaster for UMaine, as Niagara scored three goals in the period, coming from Teresa Marchese-Del Monte at 9:04, Ann McLellan at 4:33 and 14 seconds later from Linda Groff.
The Black Bears managed to get another goal on the board as sophomore forward Andrea Steranko lifted the puck to the upper right corner of the net at 4:49 of the third period.
Niagara goaltender Jen Mascaro made 24 saves, while senior goalie Dawn Froats stopped nine shots.
Saturday’s game saw the Black Bears come back from one-goal deficits three times to tie the game. A fourth time never came.
Niagara didn’t waste time getting on the board as Bradi Cochrane scored the first goal of the game off a one-timer from the left wing at 3:21.
The Black Bears came back with a goal at 13:04 of the period when Aarts scored off a rebound after Niagara failed to clear the puck.
With 32 seconds left in the period, Niagara’s Melissa Hamilton deflected a shot into the net to put the Purple Eagles back on top.
UMaine answered back 18 seconds later when Sjogren tied the game with assists from Aarts and junior forward Naomi Smethurst.
Second period action saw the Purple Eagles back on top at 3:08 of the period when Del Monte fired one past Black Bear goalie Lara Smart.
With 4:54 left in the period, Sjogren scored her second goal of the game to tie the game once again.
UMaine was unable to get the go-ahead goal as Niagara got what would be the game-winning goal with 5:45 left, coming from Candice Moxley.
Smart made 24 saves in the games while Mascaro stopped 27 shots.
The Black Bears hope to bounce back next weekend as they play Cornell University Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.
“When you don’t have confidence you can’t win these close games,” Filighera said. “Every time you get in close games it’s like, ‘what’s going to happen now?’ The good thing is that we have five non-league contests so it doesn’t hurt us in the playoffs. We can’t really worry about our overall record. What we have to worry about is getting better and trying to win these close games and move on.”
Bangor Daily News