The University of Maine women’s soccer team played the first collegiate game at their newly opened New Balance Track & Field and Soccer Complex on Thursday night in Orono, and would battle to a 1-1 America East tie with Bryant University.
Sophomore Hilary Washington (transfer from Baylor) opened the scoring, tallying her first Black Bears goal and the first collegiate marker of her career on a shot from 20 yards out inside the left post off an assist from Emma Nicholson at 2:50 of the first half. Maine controlled action for most of the contest, and held the Bulldogs to just one shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes. Bryant (3-3-5, 0-1-2 in America East) would keep pushing and would get an equalizer unassisted from Colleen Ardolino as she scooped up a loose ball off a corner kick opportunity that ended the scoring in the 67th minute. Elena Barenberg had two saves in net for the Black Bears, as they led in shots 18-6 (4-3 on goal). Maine (2-4-2, 1-0-1 in conference play) returns to action on Sunday when they travel to Binghamton to battle the Bearcats at 12 p.m.
Photo of Hilary Washington courtesy of UMaine Athletics
