University of Maine fourth-year goaltender Meghann Treacy showed why she is one of the best goalies in Women’s Hockey East on Saturday, stopping 24 of 25 shots to lead the Black Bears to a 3-1 victory against Providence College. The victory snaps a seven game winless streak for the Black Bears.
The Friars were the first to get on the board just seconds before the end of the first period, as third-year forward Cassidy Carels was able to capitalize on a forced turnover to collect her seventh goal of the season.
Providence would take the 1-0 lead into the first period, but it was short-lived as Maine’s fourth-year forward Audra Richards found the back of the net 1:33 into the second period for her 13th goal of the season. Second-year defender Mikayla Rogers was credited with the assist.
Special teams were a factor as Maine was able to score two second period goals on the man advantage. Fifteen minutes into the second period, fourth-year defender Kelsey MacSorley and second-year forward Catherine Tufts would assist third-year forward Morgan Sakundiak for a power play goal. This would be all of the offense that Maine would need.
First-year defender Alyson Matteau provided the insurance, continuing her impressive freshman campaign by scoring her fifth goal of the season with under a minute to play in the second on the 5-on-3 man advantage. Tufts picked up her second assist of the game on the goal.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the third period. Providence’s first-year goaltender Madison Myers finished with 21 saves on 24 shots. The Black Bears converted two of their seven opportunities on the power play. The Friars went 0-6.
Providence shuts out Maine 1-0
Winning games on the road against a conference opponent is tough. Doing it two times in the same weekend is even more difficult.
The Black Bears found this out the hard way as they were shutout by Providence College 1-0 on Sunday afternoon. Carels, who scored her second goal of the series and eighth goal of the season, broke the scoreless tie 17:20 into the second period when she banged home a one-timer in the slot off an assist from second-year forward Brooke Boquist.
Providence’s first-year goaltender Madison Myers bounced back from allowing three goals in Saturday’s game, by stopping all 20 shots she faced en route to her first collegiate shutout. Her record on the season improves to 8-11-1.
Treacy did all she could to keep her team in the game, turning away 23 of 24 shots she faced. Her record falls to 7-16-2 for the season. Her 47 saves on the weekend brings her career total in Hockey East to 1,877 saves, good enough for fifth place all-time. She joins former Black Bear netminders Genevieve Turgeon (3rd, 2042 saves) and Brittany Ott (2nd, 2043 saves) in the top five.
Both teams went 0-4 on the power play, which included a 5-on-3 advantage for the Black Bears. Providence, for the second straight game, outshot Maine 24-20. Maine held the advantage in the faceoff circle again, winning 31 draws to Providence’s 26.
With the loss, Maine falls to 8-19-2 (4-15-1 WHEA) and drops to eighth place in the conference. Providence improves to 9-18-1 (5-12-1 WHEA) and claims sole possession of sixth place.
The Friars return to action Feb. 6 when they host second place Northeastern for one game, before heading to Storrs, Conn. to take on the University of Connecticut Huskies the following afternoon.
The Black Bears return home for senior weekend Feb. 5 and 6 as they play host to Merrimack College, with four crucial Hockey East points up for grabs. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. both days.
