On Sunday, Sept. 8, the University of Maine field hockey team fell to the Kent State Golden Flashes 2-1, dropping to a 0-3 record on the young season.
The Flashes got on the board twelve minutes into the game, when fourth-year midfielder Berta Jover Llorens carried the ball up the right side of the goal line and passed it to second-year forward Luisa Knapp for her third goal of the season. Kent State’s third year back Clara Rodriguez Seto put them ahead 2-0 with a one-timer tip-in from fourth-year forward Laila Richter 22 minutes into the first half.
The Black Bear’s lone goal came with only fifteen seconds left in the game when fourth-year forward Brianna Ricker scored off an assist from fourth-year forward Brittany Smith. The Black Bears did not have enough time left to score the equalizer. The Black Bears outshot the Flashes 13-4 but could not get past Kent State’s goaltender.
On Friday, Sept. 13, the University of Maine field hockey team picked up their first win of the season, beating the nationally-ranked No. 22 Boston University 2-1.
Fourth-year forward Brianna Ricker tallied the first goal of the game just three minutes into the contest off a sweet pass from third-year back Hana Davis. Boston got an equalizer before the end of the first quarter as first-year back Jodie Conolly possessed the ball at the top right of the circle before finding first-year forward Ellie McIntyre for a redirect at the goalmouth 15 minutes into the quarter.
Ricker struck again for the Black Bears with under seven minutes left in the opening half when she forced a turnover in the midfield before creating space at the top of the circle and firing an elevated shot to the back of the net. The Black Bear’s second-year goaltender Mia Borley played very well, just letting in one goal on six shots.
The Terriers outshot Maine 11-6 and outshot them in on goal shot 6-4. Ricker’s two goals on the day give her a total of four on the season and puts her in second place for the most goals in the America East Conference. Maine picks up their first win of the season and improves their record to 1-3 on the season.
The Black Bears will play host to Northeastern University Friday, Sept. 20 at 3:00 p.m. On Sunday, Sept. 22, they will travel to Harvard University and take on the Crimson in non-conference play.
