The University of Maine women’s ice hockey team would hit the road for the first time in the 2024-25 season on Friday and Saturday afternoon for a pair of Hockey East games at Agannis Arena against #15 Boston University.
On Friday- Boston University carried the play throughout, and got a game winning goal from Lilli Welcke in the first period in a 2-1 victory.
All three of the goals were scored in that first period. Lola Reid tallied for BU at 12:14, followed by the game winner by Welcke under a minute later. Maine got their lone marker from Danielle Brunette just 17 seconds after the goal by Welcke. The Terriers had the edge in shots attempted 64-24 (38-15 on net), but Black Bears freshman goalie Kiia Lahtinen in her first collegiate game kept her team in it but they ultimately fell short.
Jamie Grinder and Reagan Wurm each had an assist in the loss for Maine. Lahtinen had 36 saves. The Black Bears went 0-3 on the powerplay. Callie Shanahan had 14 stops in net for Boston University, and the Terriers went 0-5 on their powerplay chances. Luisa Welcke, Julia Shaunessy, and Riley Walsh had one assist a piece. Lilli and Luisa Welcke are sisters who both played at Maine in their freshman season (2022-23) before transferring to Boston University.
On Saturday- Sydney Healey had a game winning goal with just over six minutes left in the first period, as Boston University completed the sweep with a 2-0 win.
Maine was able to get more pucks on net with 23 of them in the loss, compared to just 15 Friday afternoon but the Terriers netminder Shanahan was solid again in picking up the shutout. Tamara Giaquinto added a third period goal for BU.
Lahtinen started in net for Maine for the second straight game and had 24 saves. The Black Bears had just one powerplay chance in falling to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in Hockey East. Shanahan had 23 stops for Boston University, who improved to 3-3 and 3-1 in league play. Luisa Welcke, Shaunessy, and Walsh each had an assist for the Terriers. Maine is back on the road and in non-conference play next weekend with a two game series at Colgate on Friday and Saturday.
Maine junior forward Ava Stevenson gets a shot off during a Hockey East game against Providence on October 11 in Orono. Photo by Anthony DelMonaco
