On Sept. 22, the University of Maine Black Bears field hockey team beat the visiting Merrimack Warriors 6-0. With the victory, UMaine head coach Josette Babineau picked up her 200th career win.
UMaine entered the contest 3-3 and a 2-0 conference record after falling to Boston College 4-2 and Boston University 2-1 last weekend. Merrimack entered the game at 0-5 and looked to get their first win, losing their previous two contests against Quinnipiac University 7-1 and Bryant University 3-0.
The first quarter was a quiet one for both teams. Third-year forward Kate Richardson had the first shot of the game for Maine about nine minutes in but missed wide. The whistle sounded heavily, with Merrimack being called for 10 fouls in the period. Second-year forward Saylor Kuefler and third-year forward Olivia Geniti both had shots on goal during the tail end of the period. Still, third-year Merrimack goalie Isabelle Gardiner was able to save both attempts. The Black Bears had several opportunities in transition but could not connect on several deep through-balls, many just out of reach. Kate Richardson looked to have a shot at goal with just under four remaining, but it got whistled back because of a foul. While not ideal, the score remained 0-0 going into the second.
Despite first-period struggles, it seemed like all the Black Bears needed was a small break in play. A minute into the second quarter, Geniti scored her fourth goal of the season, putting Maine on the board. Later in the quarter, third-year midfielder Zoe Furber found third-year forward Kate Richardson inside the shooting circle, who popped the ball up in the air for third-year forward Maeve Fogarty to score on a beautiful backhand, marking her first goal of the season.
Richardson put a bow on an incredible period by the Black Bears by scoring her third goal of the season after battling in front of the net for the point. Merrimack didn’t have a single shot the entire first half. UMaine had 12 shots, nine of which came in the second period. Gardiner had five saves for the Warriors, keeping Merrimack in the hunt for their first victory. Maine led 3-0 going into the second half.
The Black Bear domination continued into the third period. While not adding more goals to the score sheet, UMaine had nine shots, forcing Gardiner to make six more saves.
The goals kept flowing in the fourth period. With just over three minutes in the final period, UMaine finally capitalized on a penalty corner with a grad student connection, with forward Micaela Grajales scoring her second goal of the season set up by midfielder Victoria Tinghitella.
UMaine fourth-year back Poppy Lambert had a chance for a goal on another penalty, but the shot was blocked by an incredible sliding save from Gardiner. Unfortunately for Merrimack, the ball went straight to Tinghitella at the top of the shooting circle, who didn’t hesitate after seeing a keeperless goal, slotting the ball in the back of the net putting the Black Bears up 5-0. Lambert, who scored four goals in the last contest between Maine and Merrimack, added to her resume against the Warriors after putting the nail in the coffin and scoring on a penalty stroke.
Shot-wise, Maine was dominant. The Black Bear defense was stifling, preventing Merrimack from getting any shots off. Maine, on the other hand, had 43 shots, 29 of those being goals. Gardiner had a great game for the Warriors and kept her squad in the game. The third-year keeper finished 23 saves while allowing six goals. Graduate student Rozárie Mrázová and second-year Jayde Temby had time in goal this game and combined for the shutout.
