The University of Maine Field Hockey team opened their 2024 season on the road in Evanston, Illinois with a pair of games on Friday and Saturday respectively against the host #1 ranked Northwestern Wildcats and the University of Massachusetts Minutewomen.
On Friday afternoon vs #1 Northwestern- A first quarter goal by Ashley Sessa is all the Wildcats would need in cruising to a 3-0 season opening win. Sessa tallied 14:12 into action, and Olivia Bent-Cole would score in the second and third quarter to wrap up the scoring. All three goals went unassisted. Jayde Temby started in goal for Maine and covered the first half, making three saves on five shots. Rozarie Mrazova played half number two and stopped six of seven shots in the cage. Northwestern had a 23-3 edge in shots attempted (12-2 on net), as Annabel Skubisz saved both Black Bear attempts to pick up the shutout.
On Saturday morning vs UMass- Zoe Furber scored just over eight minutes into overtime, lifting Maine to a 2-1 win over UMass to even their early season record to 1-1. Saylor Kuefler scored the first goal of the year for the Black Bears at 3:26 of the first quarter for a 1-0 lead, before the Minutewomen equalized on a tally from Neva Eisenga at 9:42 of the opening period. Neither team would score in regulation after that, setting up the Furber game winner at 8:07 of the extra session. Micaela Grajales also added an assist for Maine, while Temby along with Mrazova combined to make five saves on six shots on goal. Myrte Van Herwijnen made four stops on six shots for 0-1 UMass. The Black Bears remain on the road on Monday as they travel to Bloomington to face Indiana at 12 p.m.
