The University of Maine women’s soccer team ended a three-game losing streak upon beating the University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks in Lowell on Oct. 11. The contest was close but the Black Bears ultimately came out on top with a final score of 1-0. This victory came after two tough losses to the University of Hartford Hawks and the University of Albany Great Danes over the past two weeks.
The first loss, against the University of Hartford, was an equally low scoring contest that commenced on Oct. 4. Hartford’s Gabriella Gamory scored the only goal of the contest just under 10 minutes into the second half of the game. The contest was quite the stalemate, as neither team was able to truly get a solid offensive attack going. Allowing the only goal scored of the game, Black Bears goalkeeper Annalena Kriebisch had an otherwise strong performance, blocking eight shots on goal from the Hawks’ offense.
While both teams were able to take their fair share of shots on goal, with the Black Bears taking six shots to the Hawks’ nine shots. The slight offensive advantage proved to be the deciding factor on the day, sending the Black Bears home with their second straight 1-0 loss.
The Black Bears had minimal time to prepare for their next game, as they hosted the Great Danes on Sunday, Oct. 7 in Orono.
Looking to end their losing skid, the Black Bears defense dug in, and began with a deadlock during the first half of play against the Great Danes. After showing some offensive power in their previous contests, the Black Bears’ offense was absent from this game, with only two shots on goal during the contest. The Black Bears took nine shots total, with some sailing over the net and others sailing far too wide. The only true shots on goal came from first-year Birte Speck and third-year Emilie Andersen.
The Black Bears’ defense broke down in the second half, leaving Kriebisch to stop the onslaught from the Great Danes’ offense, resulting in a scoring spree. Kicking off the barrage was Megan Kavanaugh 60 minutes into the game, quickly followed by another goal by Jada Colbert 43 seconds later. Kavanaugh then launched a high right post kick from 15 yards out, putting the Great Danes up 3-0. Sammy Falkenstein iced away the game by scoring once more with less than five minutes left of play in the game, creating an insurmountable lead and sending the Black Bears home with a loss.
Upon traveling to Massachusetts, UMaine ended their three game skid with a victory against UMass Lowell. The low-scoring contest was won by a single goal scored by fourth year defender Mikayla Morin. Morin’s shot was a golden opportunity coming off a corner kick and a successful pass by Emilie Anderson. The ball went flying into the back of the net and the game became a stalemate for the remaining 60 minutes of play, sending the Black Bears back home with their first win since defeating the University of New Hampshire at home on Sept. 27. With the America East tournament on the horizon, the Black Bears will be looking to finish the regular season in an upcoming tilt against the University of Maryland Baltimore County in Baltimore on Oct 21.
