On Saturday, Oct. 28, the University of Maine Black Bears (5-4, 1-2-0) traveled to Durham, N.H. to take on the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Wildcats (5-1-1, 3-1-1). The Wildcats ended up on top, winning 2-1, giving Maine their first conference loss and UNH receiving their third conference win.
Maine started off the scoring of the game, with their first goal being three minutes and 41 seconds into the first period. Coming off the power play, first-year forward Michelle Weis got the puck after some chaos in front of the net and with an assist from second-year forward Vendula Pribylova was able to net her first collegiate goal.
Unfortunately for the Black Bears, this lead did not last long. UNH found the back of the net just 10 minutes later, knotting the score at 1. Second-year forward Carlee Turner scored off an assist from third-year defender Jenna Rheault and second-year forward Taylor Wenczkowski on a fast break chance. This was Turner’s first goal of the season, after having logged three assists. Last season she had three goals and 14 assists.
The scoring didn’t end here though. Just three minutes later, UNH found the back of the net again, bringing the score to the final score of the game, 2-1. Second-year forward Meghara McManus fed the puck to fourth-year defender Julia Fedeski from behind, allowing Fedeski to net the puck and give the Wildcats the lead. Fedeski leads the team in goals, with this goal being her fifth on the season. Last season, she tallied a total of six goals and 16 assists.
The following two periods saw no scoring, although there were shots made. In the second period Maine had six shots, while UNH had five, compared to Maine’s 12 and UNH’s eight in the first period. The third period saw nine shots from UNH and eight from Maine.
For the Black Bears, second-year forward Tereza Vanisova led in shots, tallying seven on the night, followed by fourth-year forward Brooke Stacey, fourth-year defender Mikayla Rogers and Pribylova who all logged three shots.
For the Wildcats, Turner led the team in shots, with four shots. She was followed by Fedeski and fourth-year defender Amy Schlagel with three shots.
Second-year goaltender Carly Jackson was in the goal for the Black Bears, taking the loss on the night. Despite the loss, Jackson recorded 20 saves. First-year goaltender Ava Boutilier was in the net for the Wildcats and got the win on the night. She recorded 25 saves on the night.
UNH will go on to play Boston University at home on Sunday, while the Black Bears will remain on the road traveling to Chestnut Hill, Mass to take on No. 3 Boston College.
Black Bears Crushed by Boston College
The Black Bears traveled to Chestnut Hill, Mass on Sunday, Oct. 29 to take on the No. 3 Boston College (BC) (6-0-1). The Black Bears fell 7-2 to the Eagles.
The Eagles started off the scoring of the game, netting four goals in the first period of play. The first goal was scored on the power play by third-year forward Makenna Newkirk off an assist from first-year forward Daryl Watts and third-year defender Serena Sommerfield.
Just two minutes later fourth-year defender Toni Ann Miano scored her second goal of the season and BC’s second goal of the game. Second-year forward Caitrin Lonergan and first-year forward Willow Corson took the assist. The scoring continued 35 seconds later when third-year forward Ryan Little found the back of the net off an assist from second-year forward Erin Connolly and second-year defender Caroline Ross.
The final game of the period came seven minutes later when Watts scored off assists from Lonergan and Corson. This was Watts’ ninth goal of the season.
Going into the second period the Eagles did not slow down at all, but Maine was able to net their first goal of the game. Just before the four minute mark Watts scored her 10th goal of the season off an assist from Newkirk and second-year forward Delaney Belinskas.
One minute later, first-year forward Maegan Beres found the back of the net. Connolly and Little were credited with the assist. Maine was not going to let the store stay at 6-0 then. Nine minutes after Beres’ goal, Maine countered with one of their own. Second-year forward Lydia Murray scored for the Black Bears with second-year defender Brittany Kucera and third-year forward Cailey Hutchison taking the assist.
This wrapped up the scoring of the period, but both teams were able to net a final goal in the last period.
The Eagles started the scoring once again, just past the halfway mark of the period. Lonergan found the back of the net off an assist from Watts. This was her seventh goal of the season.
Three minutes later, Maine countered with one of their own. Fourth-year forward Catherine Tufts scored off an assist from Stacey and Vanisova. This was her first goal of the season.
This goal ended the scoring for the night, with the Black Bears losing 7-2.
The game ended with BC having 47 shot attempts compared to Maine’s 19. Of those shots, 39 of BC’s logged as shots and 14 of Maine’s were shots on goal. Both teams were tied on faceoffs with each team winning 29.
For the Black Bears, first-year goaltender Loryn Porter started the game, but after eight minutes of play and three goals from BC, Jackson was subbed in. Jackson recorded 25 saves at the net and four goals allowed for a .862 save percentage, while Porter saved seven shots and allowed 3 goals for a .700 save percentage. Fourth-year goaltender Katie Burt was in the net for the Eagles, taking the win on the night. Burt made 12 saves, allowing two goals for a .857 save percentage on the night.
Boston College will continue their season on Friday, Nov. 3 when they play Providence College for another Hockey East match-up. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. The Black Bears will go on to play Dartmouth College on Saturday, Nov. 4 in Hanover, N.H. with a puck drop scheduled for 2 p.m.
