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Spectators wearing gloves and hats stood cheering until time expired in the women’s soccer team’s double overtime affair. A game that was largely dominated by the University of Maine finished knotted at a 1-1 stalemate.
UMaine controlled the action early and stifled Vermont’s attack with shut down defense by Anjelica Hodgson, Hailey Blackburn, Sady Tobin, and Cristina Di Ielsi. The Black Bears were engineering quality looks off good ball movement throughout the game.
Maine drew first blood in the heart of the first half. On a corner kick in the 32nd minute, sophomore Kelsey Wilson crossed and got the ball to freshman forward Carolyne Nellis who finished it, putting Maine on the board.
“It was just a corner like we practiced that Kim gives the ball on the line. Then Kelsey comes and flicks it in,” Nellis said. “I just got the ball at my feet so I just had to put it in, so it was a team effort.”
The way the defense was protecting in front of senior goalkeeper Jasmine Phillips, who made three saves, it seemed as though the Nellis score may be enough.
Maine visibly dominated the first half, managing 10 shots to Vermont’s four. Following the 15-minute halftime intermission, which saw fans head for shelter to warm up a bit, the same crowd returned, showing their appreciation for the hard fought match.
The second half started and progressed in the same way much of the first half had. The Black Bears were controlling possession and it seemed as though all they had to do was wait for the clock to expire. That’s when Vermont executed and converted on the best play of the day.
Though Vermont struggled, one brief moment of excellence is all they needed. With the Black Bears under 25 minutes from victory in the 66th minute, Samantha Ciaravino dribbled the ball just over midfield, shaded to the right a bit. Forward Carson Laderoute broke and looked back, waiting for the delivery from her teammate. Ciaravino led her perfectly and Laderoute headed it into the net for the score.
“To Vermont’s credit, they fought hard for ninety minutes and got the once chance that they had,” 10th-year head coach Scott Atherley acknowledged.
Realizing the necessity to answer, UMaine continued to get great looks, but a few spectacular leaping saves by Vermont goalkeeper Eliza Bradley, who ended with 11 on the day, contained the assault down the stretch.
In what was a physical battle, both the Black Bears and Catamounts played a clean game. Both coaches were able to rotate their players effectively and all players contributed. Along with the goal by Nellis, substitutes Alli Krous, Kaitlyn MacIssac, and Hannah Breton all got shots off. Starting senior forward Veronique Fleury led the team with seven shots.
The game clock eventually hit zero with the score tied at one. The two teams spent the 10-minute extra frame countering each other’s attack. Only one shot was mustered in the first bonus period as Maine got a look to potentially end it, but they missed a great opportunity as they had on some earlier shots.
“For us, the difference is you maybe get the second one, then you get the third, the fourth, and the fifth and the game is over. The only thing that eluded us today was finishing and putting one in the basket, and sometimes it’s the humbling nature of the game,” Atherley explained. UMaine’s all-time winningest coach continued, “That’s the difference to me between being really good and great. The great ones finish those chances.”
Perhaps hearing something to this effect in the huddle before heading into the second and final overtime, this being sudden death, Maine hoped to finish. With both sides understanding that time was fading, hurried the attack and fired more shots. Vermont managed one shot and Maine answered with three of their own, all ultimately being off target or well defended.
“There’s not much I can pick apart from our team in terms of our performance and be critical of,” Atherley said. “They did everything we asked them to do and the difference in the game is burying our chances. We had twenty-five shots to seven. We out cornered them ten to one and it’s a 1-1 game.”
Atherley went on, “In terms of our game plan, we executed our game plan to perfection. The only thing that was lacking was our ability to finish.”
Nellis echoed the feelings of her head coach.
“We didn’t finish and that’s what hurt us, it’s just our finishing,” Nellis said. “It was a good game. It was fun to play in, but we just have to finish, that’s really it.”
Atherley concluded, “Hey, if we get this type of effort and performance every game, I’m a happy camper. We just need to finish.”
The Black Bears record went to 5-4-6 on the season and Vermont earned its first tie of the season, going to 3-12-1. The Black Bears played an encouraging game with which to build off following two losses at Boston University and at Harvard.
When asked if the team was looking ahead to the next game, Atherley laughed and light-heartedly said, “That’s the only reaction we can have.”
