On Saturday Dec. 2nd, the University of Maine Women’s Ice Hockey team faced the College of the Holy Cross women’s team at 4 p.m. Freshly coming off a third consecutive win against the University of Vermont Catamounts, the Black Bears won 6-0 against the Crusaders, sweeping for the weekend.
The Black Bears were on the offensive right from the puck drop in the first period. Only 33 seconds into the period, the Black Bears scored a goal by the Black Bears’ leading goal scorer, fifth-year Ida Kuoppala, assisted by second-year Ava Stevenson and fifth-year Ann-Frederique Guy. The period ended with the Black Bears being up 1-0. Third-year defenseman Adriana Van De Leest and third-year Mira Seregley served penalties for interference, while Alyssa Wruble served a penalty for tripping. The Crusaders, with three penalty kills this period, could not score.
Holy Cross came out stronger in the second period than the Black Bears. The Crusaders kept pushing for chances to get a goal, but the Black Bears were able to stay in charge. With 13 minutes left in the period, the Black Bears scored, taking a two-goal lead. First-year Reagan Wurm with her first collegiate goal, assisted by first-year forwards Lily Fetch and Mikayla Boarder. Bachetti made considerable saves to keep the game in motion. The Crusaders kept pushing for opportunities.
However, the Black Bears’ defense and Bachetti were able to keep the lead. The Crusaders took the most penalties this period in attempts to get on the board. At 1:47, the Black Bears scored a powerplay goal, taking a three-goal lead. The goal was scored by third-year Jamie Grinder, assisted by first-year defenseman Sophia Johnson and Fetch, marking Grinder’s first goal as a Black Bear. The Crusaders took more penalties this period: fourth-year forward Bryn Saarela for hooking, second-year defenseman Taylor Cantelon for tripping and third-year forward Mackenzie King for body-checking.
In the third period, the Black Bears were back on the offensive, controlling the Crusaders, spending most of the period on the Crusader’s end. With 13:25 left in the period, the Black Bears scored another goal, taking a four-goal lead. The Black Bears stay on the offensive and control the puck for most of the period.
Fifth-year forward Ida Kuoppola made a great pass to teammate fourth-year Rahel Enzler for the fifth goal for the Black Bears with 10 minutes left in the game. The Black Bears took a penalty called on first-year Bria Holm for body-checking with eight minutes left in the game. The penalty was challenged, but the challenge was denied.
The Black Bears controlled the rest of the period, staying in the Holy Cross end. Fifth-year goaltender Madison Beck had crazy saves to keep the Black Bears from scoring but was coming up short.
With five minutes left in the game, the Black Bears scored, having the game 6-0. The goal was scored by first-year Haley Ryan, with assists from first-year Ashley Kokavec and fifth-year Abby Latorella. Bachetti had 29 huge saves to have a shutout this game.
The Black Bears will take on Dartmouth College on Dec. 9 at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. The puck drops at 2 p.m. The Black Bears will not return to the Alfond until Jan. 6, 2024.
