By Anthony Panciocco
When the top two offenses in the America East Conference squared off in the field hockey quarterfinals Thursday evening, the expectation was a high-scoring shootout.
This expectation never came to fruition, as the second-seeded University at Albany Great Danes downed the third-seeded University of Maine 1-0 to end the Black Bears’ hunt for an America East Championship.
UMaine finishes the season with an 11-9 record, while Albany ends with a 16-5 mark after falling in the America East Finals against the University of New Hampshire on Sunday.
After a quiet first half, UMaine nearly capitalized on one of their three penalty corner opportunities in the second.
Junior Annabelle Hamilton, fresh off being named the America East Player of the Week, fired a shot from the top of the circle, but it was turned away by an Albany defender before it could reach the goal. Hamilton finished the season with a team-high 35 points.
Albany scored the lone goal of the contest halfway through the second half. Senior forward Daphne Voormolen, an America East first team selection, passed ahead to freshman forward Molly Mariano who put it past UMaine sophomore netminder Natasha Ford for a 1-0 lead.
Ford was strong in goal, saving two of the three shots she was tasked with. On the other side of the field, Albany freshman goalie Maxi Primus performed just a bit better, saving both shots sent her way.
Defense was the focal point of contest, as there were only 13 total shots on the day. Albany led in shots 8-5 as well as penalty corners 10-3.
Voormolen led the Great Danes’ offense in shots with three and assisted on the lone goal of the game to add to an already noteworthy season. She was named the America East Offensive Player of the Year last week after her impressive 40-point campaign.
The Black Bears had eight players make all-conference teams this season, highlighted by three first-teamers in Hamilton, sophomore midfielder Nicole Sevey and junior forward Holly Stewart; two second-teamers in senior defensive back Francesca Rowley and freshman midfielder Sydney Veljacic; and three all-rookie team honorees in Ford, Veljacic and forward Danielle Aviani.