On Friday in Orono, The University of Maine women’s hockey team earned a commanding 5-1 victory over the University of Connecticut Huskies. The Black Bears started the first period strong. The defense stepped up and third-year goaltender Carly Jackson stopped everything that came her way.
First-year forward Celine Tedenby intercepted a UConn pass at center ice and reversed directions as third-year forward Tereza Vanisova joined the rush. Tedenby pulled the defense to her, giving Vanisova room as she received the puck and fired in a hard shot to gave Maine a lead in the waning seconds of the first period.
After assisting on the first goal, Tedenby scored a goal of her own six minutes into the second period. The first-year forward fired a shot from the face-off circle cutting in from the boards unchallenged. Her quick release had enough to break through UConn goaltender Morgan Fisher’s initial save before continuing to trickle through the five hole and in, extending the Black Bears lead to two. With 11 minutes played in the second period, the UConn defense chased first-year forward Liga Miljone down the boards as she caught some of the defense on a change. Miljone cut across the ice as Tedenby flew down the center slot to tip in Miljone’s pass for her second goal of the game. The Black Bears kept coming as second-year forward Michelle Weis joined her linemates to score with six minutes left in the second period. Vanisova left the puck for Weis as she wired a puck from the nearside face-off circle. Her shot found the back of the net and gave the Black Bears a 4-0 lead.
Halfway through the third period third year forward Briana Colangelo intercepted a Maine pass giving her a breakaway chance. Colangelo took full advantage of her empty sheet of ice and scored UConn’s first goal of the contest. Second-year forward Maddie Giordano finished the afternoon with an empty net goal for the Black Bears. The final tally gave Maine a 5-1 lead which they would hold onto for their seventh Hockey East victory of the season.
Jackson saved 24 of 25 shots taken by the Huskies and the Black Bear’ defense blocked 15 more shots.
On Saturday afternoon, UMaine took on the Huskies for the second game of the weekend series. The Black Bears and Huskies skated to a 0-0 tie with both teams playing tremendous defense. Jackson saved all 21 shots taken by the Huskies. Fisher saved all 33 shots taken by the Black Bears. Both teams had opportunities in overtime but could not bury the puck in the back of the net. The Black Bears’ record moves to (14-10-3) overall and (7-10-2) putting them only one point behind UConn for 6th place in America Hockey East. The Black Bears will face rival University of New Hampshire on Saturday, Feb. 2 and Sunday Feb. 3 in Durham, New Hampshire.
