The University of New Hampshire Wildcats held off a late rally by the Maine Black Bears on Friday afternoon, securing a 3-2 women’s Hockey East victory at the Alfond Arena in Orono. It was the conference opener for both teams.
UNH (3-2, 1-0 Hockey East) jumped ahead with a pair of goals in the first period. Tamara Thierus made a good lead pass from center ice to Chavonne Truter. Truter would walk in on Maine goalie Jordan Mattison, beating the netminder with a hard wristshot at 9:03. The Wildcats added another on the powerplay at 14:46 as Danika Botterill tipped in a point shot by Shea Verrier. The game winner was scored by Rae Breton, who would tip in a one-timer from the blue line by Mikah Baptiste at the 15:41 mark of the second to make it 3-0. Ida Kuoppala got the Black Bears on the board on a nice setup by Rahel Enzler 8:11 into the third period. Maine would score again with just 18 seconds left to play on a goal by Haley Ryan with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, but ran out of time in trying to find the equalizer.
Mattison made 19 saves in the loss for Maine, as the Bears fall to 2-3 in dropping the Hockey East opener. Kuoppala had a goal and an assist. Sedona Blair was big in net in the victory for UNH, stopping 36 shots. Maine is on the road next Friday and Saturday at Providence College.
Recap by Chris Lessner
