ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine women's hockey team skated to a 1-1 draw against the University of Connecticut, Friday afternoon. The decision gives the Black Bears a record of 12-8-6 on the season and 6-6-2 in Hockey East play. The Huskies record now stands at 3-15-7 overall and 2-7-3 in conference play. Dominique Goutsis (Coquitlam, British Columbia) found the back of the net for the Black Bears while netminder Brittany Ott (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) made 25 saves on 26 shots she faced.
The first period saw solid offense from both teams as well as solid goaltending by Ott and Connecticut goalie Nicole Paniccia. There was a total of 19 shots from both teams throughout the period, however at the end of the first period, the score would remain tied at 0-0.
It was not until midway through the second period that the first goal was scored when Dominique Goutsis found the back of the net. Goutsis rung the post on her initial shot when the puck scrambled down into the Black Bear defensive zone. Jessica Hall (Ingersoll, Ontario) found Myriam Croussette (Baie-Comeau, Quebec), who then found Goutsis who carried the puck up the right side and fired a wrist shot. The shot beat Nicole Paniccia high above her blocker to give the Black Bears a 1-0 lead. The goal was Dominique's third of the season while Croussette picked up her 12th assist and Hall tallied her third. The Black Bears kept the heat coming through the rest of the period, tallying 16 shots total. At the end of two, the score was 1-0, Maine.
At 6:20 in the third period, Connecticut tied the game up when Jocelyn Slattery found the back of the net on a pass through the crease, evening the score at 1-1. Assisting her on the play was Kayla Campero and Emily Snodgrass. Despite the high shooting performance by both teams, the score would remain tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation.
After five solid minutes of overtime, the score was finalized at a 1-1 draw.
Ott stood solid between the pipes for the Black Bears, blocking 25 shots on the 26 Connecticut sent her way. The decision puts her record at 8-7-3 on the season while Nicole Paniccia ended the game making 37 saves on the 38 shots she faced. Her record now stands at 3-7-3 on the season. The Black Bears and the Huskies went 0-for-5 on power play opportunities.
The Black Bears will return to action on Sunday when the host Providence College for the sixth annual Hockey East Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer event. The puck will drop at Noon. Come support the Black Bears and support Breast Cancer.