ORONO, Maine- Sydney Meader scored two fourth quarter goals, including the game winner with 13:23 remaining on Friday afternoon leading the Maine Black Bears to a 5-3 win over #20 Monmouth in the America East Field Hockey Conference opener at the Maine Field Hockey Complex.
Brooke Sulinski scored the only goal of the first half unassisted 10:25 into the second quarter, giving Maine a 1-0 lead at the half and holding the visiting Hawks to just one shot on goal. Sulinski doubled the lead on a helper from Meader just 28 seconds into the third quarter. Monmouth (5-4, 0-1 America East) fought right back though to tie it. Lorane Vanneste deposited a rebound past Black Bear goalie Mia Borley off a penalty corner just 1:21 after the Sulinski goal to cut it to 2-1. 2:18 later, Annick van Lange made it 2-2 tipping a long centering pass past Borley off an assist by Hanna McKie. Chloe Walton put Maine (4-5, 1-0 AE) up for good with a beautiful backhanded shovel shot from in close with 1:49 to go in the third. Walton assisted on the next two markers by Meader in the fourth, including the game winner as the hosts extended their win streak to three games.
Meader (2 goals, 1 assist) and Walton (1 goal, 2 assists) led the way for Maine. Borley made three saves in net for the win. The Bears also had the advantage in penalty corners 6-4. Ally Tarantino made two saves in the loss for Monmouth, while Jess Tucker scored the other goal for the Hawks. Maine continues America East play when they host reigning conference champion Stanford on Sunday at 12 p.m.
Maine goalie Mia Borley gets ready for the start of the third quarter during an America East Field Hockey game with Monmouth in Orono on Friday, September 24. Photo by Chris Lessner
Maine back Brittany Smith gets set for a penalty corner opportunity during the first quarter of an America East Field Hockey game against Monmouth on Friday, September 24 in Orono. The Black Bears won 5-3. Photo by Chris Lessner
