The fifth seeded Maine Black Bears batted top seed and host Vermont to a scoreless stalemate through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods, but ultimately would fall 1-0 in a five player shootout (3-1) in the semifinal round of the America East Field Hockey semifinals played at Moulton Winder Field in Burlington, Vermont on Tuesday afternoon.
Both goalies were on top of their game, as they each stopped a penalty stroke in the first half. Some of the best chances to score for Maine in regulation came in the fourth quarter. With about 10 minutes left, Emily Chisholm had a chance right in front of the cage and sent a backhander on net that was saved by the left pad of Vermont netminder Merle Vaandrager. The Black Bears also had three penalty corners in a row with 3:45 to go, but would still come up empty. Rozarie Mrazova would also come up huge all afternoon for her team making some stops in each of the first two overtime periods. In the second 10 minute extra session, the guests continued to have several good looks including a break-in by Zoe Furber with 3:30 remaining that she lost off her stick but none of her teammates were able to get to the loose ball near the side of the net. Furber also got an opportunity on a penalty corner that she shot wide. Maine had a 2 on 1 as well where Saylor Kuefler was stopped by Vaandrager eventually sending the match to a shootout. Gabby Santini, Veerle Nijhui, and Consu De castro would score in the shootout for Vermont and Vaandrager stopped Furber, Taylor Katsube, and Olivia Geniti to allow the Catamounts to advance to the conference championship game. Eloise Penty converted the only goal for the Black Bears in the first round of the shootout.
Mrazova had five saves in the loss for Maine, while Furber and Geniti each had two shots on goal to lead their team. The Black Bears end their season with a record of 7-12. Vaandrager stopped nine shots for defending league champion Vermont. The Catamounts (11-7), now winners of five straight games, will look to make it back to back conference crowns when they host #2 seed UNH in a rematch of last season’s America East Championship on Friday at 1 p.m.
Featured photo of Rozarie Mrazova is courtesy of UMaine Athletics
