On Nov. 2 the University of Maine women’s ice hockey lost to the Merrimack Warriors in Falmouth, Maine with an ending score of 5-1.
Despite starting the game with rough face-offs and a shot by the Black Bears, the Warriors scored the first goal of the game within the first four minutes. Merrimack fourth-year Dominique Kremer was credited for the goal with assists by first-year defender Julia Maclean and second-year forward Megan Fergusson during a power play. This was followed by a volley of shots from UMaine that either missed the net or were blocked by Merrimacks’ ironclad defenders. Merrimack’s other shots throughout the period were either wide or blocked.
In the second period Merrimack’s offense hammered away at UMaine’s defense, scoring goals one by one. The first of these was scored by fourth-year Merrimack player Felila Manu with the assistance of Maclean and second-year forward Kate Bukolska. Nearly halfway through the period, third-year defender Chloe Cook scored the third point for Merrimack during a power play. This was followed by a missed shot from UMaine and face-off.
The Black Bears fought on, managing to prevent Merrimack from scoring until the last few minutes of the second period when fourth-year player Katelyn Rae fired the puck into UMaine’s goal. She was assisted by first-year forward Gabby Jones and third-year forward Mikayla Grant-Mentus. This brought the score to 4-0 by the end of the second period.
At the start of the third period, the Black Bears won an impressive number of face-offs and fired several shots to no avail. Both teams also got their share of penalties for interference and slashing. 11 minutes in to the third period, UMaine scored its only goal of the game. After seven shots in quick succession, it was first-year UMaine forward Ali Beltz who scored with assistance of first-year Celine Tedenby and third-year Brittany Colton. This was followed up with a face-off and power play in favor of the Black Bears. Despite a sturdy defense and an aggressive offense shooting continuously at the Merrimack goal, the Warriors struck again within the final minutes of the period.
Fourth-year Merrimack player Paige Voight scored the final point with the assistance of fourth-year defender Felila Manu and Grant-Mentis. This brought the score to the final 5-1. Despite this less than favorable outcome, it was only the third loss for UMaine women’s hockey so far this season, the others being to Northeastern and Boston College.
On Sunday Nov. 4, the Black Bears will return home to face Holy Cross and then will take a trip to Providence, Rhode Island on Nov. 9, to face Providence College.
