The University of Maine women’s ice hockey team continued their hot play of late on Friday and Saturday by defeating #13 Vermont and Holy Cross in Hockey East games at the Alfond Arena in Orono.
On Friday afternoon- Rahel Enzler scored her second goal of the game at the 11:37 mark of the third period that turned out to be the game winner, as Maine topped #13 Vermont 3-2 to sweep the three game season series over the Catamounts. Mira Seregely opened the scoring at 7:27 of the first period for the Black Bears, while Enzler also scored on a breakaway at 16:59 for a 2-0 lead. UVM got one back from Lara Beecher at 4:20 of the second, before the game winner by Enzler in the third that was assisted by Seregely and Jamie Grinder. Kaylee Lewis had the other Vermont goal as time expired, and Jessie McPherson made 21 saves in net as the Catamounts dropped to 7-7-1 and 6-5-1 in Hockey East. Enzler had her two goals, Seregely had a goal and an assist, and Kennedy Little along with Alyssa Wruble also added one assist each in the win for Maine. Julia Bachetti made 29 stops in net.
On Saturday evening- Maine had six different players score a goal, and would roll to a 6-0 win over Holy Cross. Ida Kuoppala had the game winner just 33 seconds into the first period. Raegan Wurm, Grinder, Enzler, Ann-Fredrique Guay, and Haley Ryan also scored for the Black Bears. Kuoppala had a goal and two assists, and Guay along with Grinder both had a goal and an assist to lead the way. Lily Fetch added two assists, while Ashley Kokavec, Abby Latorella, Mikayla Boarder, Sophia Johnson, and Ava Stevenson each had one helper each. Bachetti made 29 saves for the second time on the weekend. Madison Beck made 27 stops in the loss for Holy Cross, as the Crusaders fell to 5-10-2 and 2-7-2 in Hockey East.
Maine has now won four games and improves their overall record to 8-8, and also evens their Hockey East record to 6-6. The Black Bears will play Dartmouth at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland next Saturday at 2 p.m.
Recaps by Chris Lessner/Photos courtesy of Anthony DelMonaco
