The University of Maine field hockey team is ranked No. 24 in the country but started the season off 0-2.
On Aug. 30, the Black Bears fell to No. 19 Rutgers 3-0 on the road to start out the 2019 season. Rutgers came out of the gate fast, scoring just two minutes into the first half when third-year back Kerrie Burns tipped a corner shot in front of the net. Just seven minutes later, Rutgers increased their lead to 2-0 when fourth-year back Austyn Cuneo ripped a shot off a corner that ricocheted off the inside of the post. Cuneo then added her second goal of the night, extending the lead to 3-0. In the second half, the Black Bears’ second-year goalie Mia Borley stopped eight shots and held Rutgers to no goals. Rutgers outshot Maine 14-3 and had an 11-4 advantage on corners.
On Sept. 1, the Black Bears fell short 5-4 in overtime to the Providence Friars in Maine’s home opener. The Friars initiated the scoring 12 minutes into the first half when third-year midfielder Sydney Cramer scored her first goal of the season. Maine answered back when third–year forward Brooke Sulinski scored on a one-timer from the left side of the net to tie the game at one. Six minutes later, the Friars took the lead back when third-year forward Olivia Ward one–timed the ball out of the air into the top left corner of the goal. Sulinski, determined to even the score, found the back of the net for her second goal of the game, with an assist from third-year back Hana Davis to tie the game up at two. The Friars picked up the first goal of the third quarter when fourth-year forward Izzy Mendez scored on a one–timer coming from left to right across the goal. Davis then tied the game back up for the Black Bears less than 30 seconds later. Second-year forward Niamh Gowing put the Friars back in the lead late in the game, but the Black Bears tied it back up when fourth-year forward Brianna Ricker scored by tipping a shot in front of the net. The deciding goal came 12 minutes into overtime from Friars first-year Nora Goddard-Despot to end it 5-4.
On Saturday, Sept.7, the University of Maine field hockey team took on Temple University, but on Kent States’ field, preceding the Sunday matchup between Kent State and UMaine. Both teams fought hard through the first half, ending with the score tied at zero. Kent States’ administration took the field before the beginning of the second half, canceling the remainder of the game due to a football game being played at noon by Kent States’ team. The game was declared a “no contest,” according to the UMaine Field Hockey Twitter page, and additionally the game will be classified as an exhibition and will not affect either team’s stats or record.
The Black Bears continue their season Friday, Sept. 13 at home against Boston University and Sunday, Sept. 15 against Columbia University.
