The University of Maine hosted one of the better teams in all of college hockey and Hockey East over the weekend, as the #5 University of Connecticut Huskies visited Alfond Arena for a two game conference women’s series with the Black Bears.
On Friday night- Maine controlled large portions of the game, especially the third period but UConn was able to hold on to take the opener 2-1. The Huskies got a first period goal from Megan Woodworth at 16:45, before Brooke Campbell put in the eventual game winner 37 seconds into the middle stanza. Stephanie Jacob had the lone Black Bears tally shorthanded and unassisted at 7:41 of that second frame, but despite some heavy pressure in the third period the hosts were unable to find the equalizer. Tia Chan made 34 saves in net for UConn, while Kyla Josifovic had two assists. Kiia Lahtinen made 26 stops for Maine. The Black Bears outshot the Huskies 76-53 (35-28 on goal, including 14-7 in the third period).
On Saturday evening- In a back and forth contest, Julia Pellerin scored the game winner with 13:41 left in the third period as UConn earned the sweep with a 4-3 victory. Ali Altiman, Gracie Hanson, and Isabelle Michaud had the goals for Maine. The hosts scored first, and then battled back twice from a one goal deficit to tie it before the game winner by Pellerin in what was a highly competitive series for the Black Bears against one of the best teams in the country. Pellerin had a goal and one assist for the Huskies, and Claire Murdoch also registered a pair of assists. Chan made 32 saves in net, as UConn improves to 17-3-2 and 10-1-1 in Hockey East. Lulu Rucinski, Mackenzie Podewell, Kendall Sundby, and Paige Fong had one assist each for Maine. Lahtinen would make 35 stops in the cage, while also picking up her first career assist on a tying goal by Michaud in the third period. The Black Bears slip to 8-13-2 and 4-7-2 in league play and wil play a two game series at Vermont next weekend.
Photos courtesy of Anthony DelMonaco (UMaine Athletics)
