The #9 ranked Maine womens ice hockey team had their five game winning streak and 10 game unbeaten streak snapped Saturday afternoon, as the Merrimack College Warriors took a 4-2 win at Alfond Arena in Orono.
Katelyn Rae opened the scoring for Merrimack 1:33 into the game, only to see Maine respond on a goal from Lydia Murray just 41 seconds later. Rae got her second goal at the 10:18 mark of the first to restore a one goal lead for the Warriors 2-1.
Maine once again tied it when Cailey Hutchinson scored at 9:10 of the second to make it 2-2. But Rae came back at 13:49 with another goal, on the powerplay, to pick up the hat trick to make it 3-2 Merrimack.
The Black Bears had some good chances in the third period, but couldn’t come up with the equalizer. Carly Jackson was pulled from the net for an extra attacker with 2:10 to go, but Rae was able to deposit her fourth goal of the day at 18:52 into the empty cage. It was the first loss for Maine since a 3-0 loss at Northeastern on November 18.
Jackson ended with 21 saves for Maine. Samantha Ridgewell made 31 in the Merrimack net. Maine was 0-2 on the powerplay, while Merrimack was 1-4. Maine falls to 16-7-3, 10-4-2 in Hockey East. Merrimack improves to 9-15-3, 4-11-2.
Maine will be on the road next Friday and Saturday to battle Connecticut. Fridays faceoff is set for 7 p.m., and Saturday at 3.
