The University of Maine’s women’s ice hockey team dropped two road games to the No. 8 Mercyhurst University Lakers this past weekend. The losses see the Black Bears’ record dip to 0-6-1 on the year, while Mercyhurst improves to 4-3-1.
Mercyhurst now holds a 9-1-0 advantage in the all-time series against the Black Bears since their first meeting in 2000. In their last five meetings, the Lakers have outscored UMaine 28-4.
Treacy’s 43 stops not enough, Lakers top UMaine 2-1
The Black Bears dropped their first game 2-1 in a tight contest Friday evening. The scoring took place exclusively in the first and second periods, with Mercyhurst scoring in the open period and the two squads netting matching goals in the middle stanza.
The Lakers drew first blood in the first period when sophomore forward Emily Janiga took a pass from senior forward Christine Bestland at the 2:38 mark before finding the twine to give Mercyhurst a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
UMaine has struggled with scoring this season, as they have been outscored 18-6 in their first six games, but with Mercyhurst freshman defender Paige Horton serving time in the penalty box for high sticking, UMaine scored to tie the game at one.
Early in the period, UMaine freshman defender Jessica Vallotton notched the first goal of her young career on the power play with assists coming from fellow freshman Emilie Brigham and senior forward Kayla Kaluzny. Brigham and Kaluzny are now tied for the team lead in points with three apiece.
The tally was the Black Bears’ first goal on the man advantage this season. Their special teams played well Friday night, holding Mercyhurst scoreless in their three power play chances while going 1-4 themselves with the extra skater.
The Lakers produced the eventual game-winner 12 minutes later when Bestland recorded her second point of the day on a goal assisted by fellow senior forward Christie Cicero and sophomore forward Maggie Rothgery.
Bestland is Mercyhurst’s career leader in games played, goals, assists and points.
UMaine was anchored by sophomore netminder Meghann Treacy, who stopped 41 of the 43 shots she faced in Friday’s contest. Treacy was named the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week after making 50 saves against the University of New Hampshire in a 2-2 tie Oct. 20.
On the other side of the ice, Mercyhurst junior goaltender Amanda Makela produced 23 stops to secure the win for the Lakers.
Four third period goals lead Mercyhurst to 5-0 win
Mercyhurst capped off the weekend series with a decisive 5-0 win over the Black Bears Saturday afternoon.
The Lakers broke the scoreless tie 6:38 into the second frame after a quiet first period.
Sophomore Jenna Dingeldein scored her first point of the season with the assist going to Cicero and sophomore forward Kathy Donohue.
Mercyhurst took a 1-0 lead into the final period despite 26 saves from Treacy in the second.
Rothgery started a huge third period for Mercyhurst in which they peppered Treacy with 19 shots and recorded four goals. Rothgery recorded her second point of the season, assisted by a duo of seniors in Bestland and Kaleigh Chippy.
Mercyhurst struck again when Chippy got her second point of the game and fifth of the season to give the Lakers a 3-0 lead. The assists on the play went to Rothgery and Donohue, giving each their second point of the contest.
Two minutes later, Donohue put home a goal assisted by Cicero and sophomore forward Jaclyn Arbour. It was Arbour’s first assist of the season and Cicero’s fourth.
The final goal came on a connection between Mercyhurst’s two leading scorers when Bestland sent a pass to sophomore forward Emily Janiga who put it home for her sixth goal of the year.
The Lakers outshot the Black Bears by a 60-22 margin Friday afternoon.
Despite allowing five goals, Treacy saved a career-high 55 shots. Makela was perfect in goal for Mercyhurst, saving all 23 shots she was tasked with. Makela was a major factor in the weekend series, allowing just one goal in two games.
UMaine returns home for a big weekend slate against Hockey East rivals Northeastern University and the University of Connecticut Nov. 1 and 3, respectively. Mercyhurst will take to the road after an off weekend when they play Robert Morris University Nov. 8-9.