ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine Women's Ice Hockey team won it's first game of the season against Sacred Heart saturday afternoon. The final score was Maine 6 and Sacred Heart 1. Maine went to 1-0 on the season, while Sacred Heart fell to 0-1.
In the first period, Sacred Heart actually held back the Black Bears outshooting them 8-6. But it didn't match the scoreboard because at 2:36 into the first period, freshman defender Madelene Eriksson broke away andscored over goaltender Sarah Perry's left shoulder. A few minutes later at 4:47, Maine scored the eventual game-winning-goal this time by junior forward Vanessa Vani. Vani got a great pass from sophomore Amy Stech and shoved it through from five feet away. The Black Bears kept the scoring going with Jordan Colliton stole a pass in the neutral zone and skated right past Perry for Maine's third goal. The Pioneers got one back at 18:05 in the first period 5-on-3 when Gina Arnone received a roped pass from Kristina Feltz on the blue line.
The second period didn't have much action but saw new transfer sophomore forward Lexie Hoffmeyer score one on the power-play from Colliton at 3:15.
The third period was all Maine as well when at 9:09 sophomore Jenna Ouellette scored with a great pass from Vani. The Black Bears' second goal came way late when junior forward Robyn Law got a pass from sophomore defender Ashley Palangi in the neutral zone and caught the Pioneers off guard. Law skated around goaltender Perry for the Black Bears' sixth goal of the game.
Maine goaltenders Genevieve Turgeon and Sarah Bishop had 11 and 9 saves respectively. Turgeon got the win. Sacred Heart goaltender Sarah Bishop played all 60 minutes and tallied 23 saves on the day. Maine totallyed 29 SOG to Sacred Heart's 21. Maine was 1-for-6 on the power-play while Sacred Heart was 1-for-8.
The Black Bears next games will be away at Mercyhurst October 5 and 6. Maine will next return home to host Providence on October 14.