ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine field hockey team watched a two-goal lead disappear Friday, Oct. 9, as the University of New Hampshire stormed back to force overtime before scoring the game-winner with just over a minute remaining. This resulted in a heartbreaking 4-3 loss for Maine.
Maine entered the contest ranked No. 43 in Division I, with a 5-5 overall record and a 1-0 conference record. The Black Bears were fresh off a 1-0 road loss to Towson University and a 3-1 home victory over the University at Albany.
“We went into that game knowing that they were a really strong team, but knowing that we’d been working super hard that week,” second-year forward Martha Barratt said before Friday’s game. “To come away with such a convincing win, I think it has boosted our confidence a lot going into the next few weeks.”
Head coach Josette Babineau also praised the team’s performance against UAlbany, highlighting the energy and effort that Maine would need to carry into its matchup with New Hampshire.
“We had a very quick start in the game and just kept the energy going throughout,” Babineau said. “The effort was pretty consistent from beginning to end.”
On the other side, UNH was only 2-6 but played a remarkably difficult schedule, which helped the Wildcats earn a No. 36 ranking in the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), making them the highest-ranked America East school. New Hampshire was coming off a 1-0 conference-opening win against the University of Vermont and a 5-0 loss against Miami University in Ohio.
Friday’s contest was an end-to-end affair, with a tightly contested first quarter featuring a late Maine goal that put the Black Bears up 1-0. The goal was scored by Barratt. She helped Maine make it 2-0, picking up an assist as fourth-year defender Eloise Penty slotted the ball home in the second quarter.
Following halftime, New Hampshire came out looking reinvigorated and opened the scoring in the second half less than four minutes in, as first-year midfielder Delilah Talbot blasted a shot into the net. Maine responded quickly and extended its lead back to two when Barratt scored her second goal of the day.
UNH would not let Maine leave the quarter with that two-goal lead, though. A few minutes later, first-year midfielder Sophie Godwin beat Maine’s defense to cut the deficit to one, putting the score at 3-2 in Maine’s favor heading into the final quarter.
The final quarter was a back-and-forth affair, and UNH tied the game at 3-3 early in the quarter as Godwin found the net, scoring unassisted for the second time.
From there, both teams’ defenses held strong, and the game went to overtime. The defensive battle continued, with neither team able to find the winning goal. With just over a minute remaining, first-year forward Julianna Casucci scored the game-winning goal, allowing New Hampshire to steal a crucial conference and rivalry win on the road.
New Hampshire dominated the shot battle, taking 18 shots in total, with 15 on target, compared to Maine’s four shots, three of which were on goal. All three of Maine’s shots on goal resulted in scores against Wildcat third-year goalie Kerigan Ross, while first-year goalkeeper Annabel Halkes made 11 saves for the Black Bears.
The loss drops Maine to 5-6 overall and 1-1 in America East play. The Black Bears will look to bounce back Sunday against No. 78 Merrimack (1-9) before traveling to face No. 49 Bryant (6-5) on Friday. After surrendering a two-goal lead against New Hampshire, Maine will need to regroup quickly as it looks to get back on track in conference play.
