The University of Maine Women’s Hockey team took on the Merrimack women’s hockey team on Friday, Feb. 3, at 6 p.m. The Black Bears fell short 3-2 in overtime against the Merrimack College Warriors.
The starting lineup from the Black Bears was fourth-year Rahel Enzler, fifth-year Ann-Frederique Guay, fifth-year Ida Kuoppala, third-year Jamie Grinder, third-year Alyssa Wruble and fourth-year Jorden Mattison in the net.
In the first period, the Black Bears were on the attack against the Warriors, staying strong on the offensive. The Warriors scored first with about eleven minutes left in the first period. The goal was scored by second-year Sophie Mckiney, assisted by third-year Haley Chang.
Shortly after the Warrior’s goal, a penalty was given to the Warriors. Fourth-year Natalie Nemes takes a major penalty for contact to the head. Nemes also got called for a misconduct on the play, leaving the game after the incident. The Black Bears used the power play to their advantage. Third-year Adriana Van De Leest scored her second goal of the season, assisted by Ida Kuoppala and Rahel Enzler. By the end of period 1-1, the Black Bears took control.
In the second period, the Black Bears came out strong. Black Bears’ first-year Reagan Wurm was given a penalty for interference. The Warriors were unsuccessful in using the power play. The Black Bears’ penalty kills and saves from their goaltender, Jorden Mattison, kept the Black Bears in the game.
With just under seven minutes left in the second period, Wurm scored her fourth goal. She was assisted by fourth-year Kennedy Little and second-year Ava Stevenson. The Black Bears ended the second period with a penalty to kill Ann-Frederique Guay with a hooking penalty. The Warriors’ power play unit was strong but fell short, ending periods 2-1.
The Warriors came out stronger than the Black Bears in the third period, Adrianna Van De Leest took a penalty for roughing. Warrior forward fifth-year Mary Edmonds took advantage of the power play and scored, tying the game. Fifth-year Celine Tedenby and Haley Chang assisted with the goal. Black Bear first-year Bria Holm was penalized for body checking; a second later, Warrior’s fifth-year Teghan Inglais got a penalty.
Later in the period, the Black Bears got it together, putting shots on the Warrior’s net. Goaltender Jorden Mattison kept the Black Bears in the game, making saves throughout the third period and letting only one goal in. Since the Warriors tied the game, it went into overtime.
The Black Bears started the three-on-three play pretty strongly. However, Merrimack goal scorer Teghan Inglais got the game-winner past Mattison. Second-year Payten Evans assisted the goal. The Black Bears outshot the Warriors 34 to 24 but ultimately ended in a 3-2 loss for the UMaine
The Black Bears look to close out the weekend against Merrimack at home before heading to Boston University next Friday and Northeastern next Saturday.
