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After playing their first four regular season games at home against Wisconsin and Colgate, the University of Maine women’s hockey team (1-2-1) will now go on a six game road trip for the next three weekends.
“Our first few games were a little sloppy as we were adapting to our new systems,” senior forward Karen Droog said. “We have 12 freshman this year, and it took us all a few games to get things rolling. With our experience, playing six games, we are starting to capitalize on our chances and establish good forechecks, and our defensive zone coverage has improved drastically.”
The Black Bears will play two games with Yale University this weekend. Yale has yet to play a regular season game and has only played a couple of exhibition games. UMaine head coach Rick Filighera feels his team doesn’t have an advantage even though his team has played six games already.
“To be honest with you those [exhibition] games are much easier,” Filighera said. “You can let a team play. We did up in Quebec. You get to see everybody. Everybody gets in a flow of the game. They are going to be excited because it’s going to be their first games. I don’t think there is an advantage either way.”
Last year the Black Bears played Yale and ended up in a 3-3 tie after being down 2-1 at one point and a struggling in the second period of the game being outshot 12-5.
“Last year we played horrible,” junior defenseman Laura Maddin said. “It was not until coach basically gave it to us for playing so bad after the second period that we picked it up. We were lucky to get a tie. I think we are a better team, however we have not been playing our best hockey. If we do not pick it up this weekend, I think we will struggle like we did last year with them.”
The Yale Bulldogs are led by second-year head coach Hillary Witt, who was named ECAC coach of the year last winter.
“They are coached well,” Filighera said. “She really gets a lot out of them. They show up to play everyday. I think they showed that last year.”
Yale is led in net by sophomore Sarah Love who had a successful rookie year, playing in 28 games and recording two shutouts. She posted a .901 save percentage and a 3.45 goals against average.
“The one equalizer they have is they have an excellent goaltender,” Filighera said. “Sarah Love is an outstanding goaltender. I think we are going to have to score some goals and that may be hard for us.”
The Black Bears will play at Yale on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. followed by Brown and Princeton next weekend. UMaine will return to Alfond Arena on Nov. 22 against Providence College.
“Road trips are hard,” Maddin said. “All of our bus rides are at least four hours, most of them are longer, however. I really enjoy playing at home in front of my friends, and the few fans we get. I am excited to play, however, so I guess you could say the desire to play strongly outweighs the long bus trips.”
