by: Michael Schuman and Derek Douglass
The Maine women’s hockey team dominated Brown over the weekend, winning on Friday night in Auburn by a score of 4-0 before taking Saturday’s game at the Alfond 4-1.
Maine takes game one 4-0
Maine dominated the first game of a weekend double-header at the neutral site of the Norway Savings Bank arena in Auburn on Friday night. The Black Bears shut out their opponent Brown University in front of a sell out crowd, 4-0.
The Black Bears were consistent throughout the game, scoring in every period. They opened up the scoring early, with first-year Cassidy Herman tickling the twine in the first five minutes of the game with an unassisted goal.
The teams were not far apart on the amount of penalties called against them, with Maine recording five, while Brown had seven. The only power play goal of the game came in the second period by first-year player Alyson Matteau. The goal came straight off of the face-off, as Matteau’s teammate Mikayla Rogers had won the faceoff and passed the puck to an open Matteau, who sent a shot that found the back of the net. This was the first goal of her collegiate career.
An underrated stat from this contest was Maine’s power play defense. Brown went on seven power plays throughout the night, and each time the defense of the Black Bears held them scoreless. On one of the power plays, Brown had a two man advantage, but Maine held strong defensively. Brown failing to convert on those opportunities ended up being their downfall in this game.
Fifth-year Meghann Treacy had a relatively quiet night between the pipes. Treacy stopped all 14 shots that were sent her way Friday night, earning her second shutout of the season.
On the offensive end of the ice, the Black Bears peppered opposing goalie Monica Elvin with a healthy 33 shots on goal, finding the net on four occasions.
Another large part of the Black Bears success was at the faceoff. Maine had just over double the faceoff wins Brown had by a count of 37-18.
Capping off the game in the final minute, a pair of goals were scored by second-year forward Brooke Stacey, who scored on an empty net from the blue line. The other goal was scored less than 30 seconds later, with a nifty backhanded shot by fourth-year forward Jillian Langtry, sealing a victory for a Black Bears squad who played great from start to finish.
The Black Bears now improve their record this season to 3-4, and hopes to continue the momentum they have picked up from the last couple games into the rest of their season.
With a plethora of Hockey East teams ahead on the schedule, Maine is poised to get back up over .500 and push their way to the top of the standings.
Maine quickly turns around and treks back up home to the Alfond for the second game of the double header against Brown on Saturday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Maine secures sweep with 4-1 victory
The Black Bears returned home to Alfond Arena for their second game versus the Brown University Brown Bears, securing a dominant 4-1 win.
Maine thoroughly outshot Brown by a 30-18 margin, with production coming from all four lines.
Fourth-year forward Abbey Cook, third-year forwards Emilie Brigham and Morgan Sakundiak, and second-year forward Brooke Stacey all had goals for the Black Bears.
First-year forward Bridget Carey had the lone goal for Brown.
“The biggest reason why we had so many shots is because we took care of the puck,” Head Coach Richard Reichenbach said. “We didn’t get nervous and got pushed off the puck. We really took care of the puck.”
Fourth-year goaltender Meghann Treacy continued to shine, only allowing one goal on 18 shots. She has only allowed two goals in her last three games.
“Our [defense] has been doing a really great job of moving people out from the front of the net,” Treacy said on her recent performances. “We worked together as a team, all around…We out-worked them, we out-hustled them, and it was all because of what the team out in front of me was doing.”
On the other end of the ice, Brown Bears second-year goalie Julianne Landry got her first start of the 2015-16 season, and allowed four goals on 30 shots.
Each team had chances on the power play, but each team’s defense was able to step up and kill the penalties. Both Maine and Brown went 0-2 on the man advantage.
Brown got on the board first at 7:22 of the first period, as a defensive breakdown led to a scoring chance for Brown. After gathering the puck off of a turnover in the neutral zone, second-year forward Sam Donovan found Carey as she was entering the offensive zone.
Carey was able to skate around the lone defender and beat Treacy under her stick side arm to give the Brown Bears a 1-0 lead.
That lead would only last 16 seconds as Maine was aggressive off of the faceoff, winning the puck back and immediately getting the puck in deep behind Landry.
The Brown defense was able to gather the puck and work it around the back of the net, but Cook was able to steal the puck in front of the net. She spun into the slot and shot the puck high to beat Landry to tie the game 1-1.
“We knew it was going to be a battle, we had to play 60 minutes and stick to our game plan,” Brigham said. “We needed to move our feet, play our systems. Make every shift count.”
Maine would strike again before the period would end on Sakundiak’s first goal of the season.
After first-year forward Nicole Arnold took the puck into the offensive zone, she began to head to the net. After being angled off by the defense, she threw the puck towards the front of the net where Sakundiak was waiting. Sakundiak stuffed the puck past Landry, who could not get over to make the play.
Maine would take the 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
The second period was more evenly matched, as each team was able to get a few shots on goal as well as a power play opportunity. Both defenses held out, until the final two minutes of the game.
After successfully defending a few minutes of cycling from Brown, the Black Bears were able to poke the puck out to the neutral zone.
Stacey carried the puck through the natural zone and went to dump the puck in before going off for a line change.
Stacey threw the puck in on Landry from the blue line, and after a few bounces, the puck dribbled between the legs of the sliding goalie to give Maine the 3-1 lead.
Maine would tack on one more goal in the third period as a result of a strong forecheck. Stacey would bring the puck through the neutral zone and dump it into the near-side corner. Stacey would follow the puck and feed it out into the circle where Brigham was waiting.
After receiving the puck, Brigham would make a few moves, eventually settling on the backhand and sending the puck into the top right corner over Landry’s shoulder from the bottom of the circle.
“Stacey and I were in the corner battling for possession. I thought to take it to the net,” Brigham said on her third period tally.
Brigham’s second of the year would give Maine the 4-1 lead, which would end up being the final score as the Black Bears shut down all counterattacks from Brown.
“I think in the last two nights, what we are proud of the most is that they worked extremely hard and we were consistent for 120 minutes,” Reichenbach said. “I thought in all three areas, especially on defense, in all the years that I’ve been here, this is the best they’ve handled the puck.”
After the weekend, Maine improves to 4-4-0 (2-2-0 WHEA). The Black Bears currently sit in a three way tie for first in the conference with Boston University and Boston College. Brown will fall to 0-2-0 (0-0-0 ECAC) on the young season.
Maine will lace up again on Oct. 30 for a single home contest against Hockey East opponent Providence College.
