In the America East women’s soccer semifinals in Orono at Mahaney Diamond on Thursday night, Kayla Kraemer scored a game winning goal just over four minutes into the first half as top seeded Maine shutout UMass-Lowell 2-0 to advance to their second straight conference championship game and the second consecutive that’ll be played on their home field. The win extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games (10-0-1), and their Mahaney Diamond unbeaten streak to 26 (16-0-10). The Black Bears will welcome in #2 seed UNH on Sunday for a chance to go back to the NCAA Tournament.
In a rematch of the America East Championship game from last season won by Maine 3-2 in double overtime, the Black Bears (12-1-3) controlled the tempo all evening and didn’t waste much time in getting the only goal that ended up mattering in the end. Jordane Pinette started the play in the fourth minute in the right corner, sending a pass into the box to Emma Schneider. Schneider made a beautiful one touch pass to Kayla Kraemer, who finished in the box with her right foot past UMass-Lowell goaltender Taylor Burgess. The hosts outchanced the Riverhawks on shots attempted 9-2 (5-0 on net) in the first half, and took a 1-0 edge to the intermission.
Abby Kraemer had a couple great chances for Maine when it was still 1-0 in the second half, firing two shots from in close that went high and over the net. Meanwhile, the Black Bears defense continued to keep UMass-Lowell bottled up only allowing one shot on goal in the match. They would get some breathing room in the 69th minute when sophomore Abbey Thornton scored her third of the season (a career-high), off assists from Gillian Rovers and Lara Kirkby. The best chance for the Riverhawks came in desperation mode with just over two minutes remaining, when Emma Mitchell fired a long shot from way beyond the box that hit off the crossbar.
Schneider, Rovers, and Kirkby each had an assist in the Maine win. Freshman goaltender Grace Wilson who had only played in one game during the regular season (1-0 shutout victory at Holy Cross on 9/15) got the start in the Black Bears net, only needing to stop one shot to pick up her second shutout. Jessica Kasacek (14 starts, 0.86 goals against average, six shutouts) missed the game due to personal reasons that weren’t disclosed. Burgess made eight saves in the defeat for UMass-Lowell, who were outshot 16-5 (10-1 on net). The #4 seeded Riverhawks, who were making their seventh straight appearance in the America East postseason, had their six game unbeaten streak snapped ending their season with a record of 6-10-3. #1 Maine vs #2 UNH is set to begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday in Orono for the title. The Black Bears defeated the Wildcats in the regular season finale on October 31 in Durham 1-0 for their first ever regular season conference championship. UNH, who defeated Binghamton 3-1 in the other semifinal on Thursday, is the last team to win in Orono over three years ago 1-0 way back on October 14, 2021.
