The University of Maine women’s soccer team began their four game road trip with a tie and a loss last weekend. The Black Bears tied Central Connecticut State University 3-3 on Friday before dropping a 3-0 decision to the University of Rhode Island Sunday afternoon.
The Black Bears fall to 2-6-1 on the season. Maine plays its next game on Sept. 28 vs. America East opponent Binghamton.
Black Bears tie CCSU in strong outing
The Blue Devils and Black Bears traded blows in a game that would eventually end in a tie, 3-3. The Blue Devils, a talented soccer team, are now 4-2-3.
CCSU began the scoring in the 15th minute, when a cross from first-year forward Kelly Halligan crossed the ball to third-year midfielder Danica Foglio, who headed the ball past Maine second-year keeper Claudia Dube-Trempe.
UMaine answered in the 39th minute when fourth-year forward Jordan Pellerin beat CCSU first-year keeper Nikki Turley of the left side. For Pellerin, it was her first goal of the season, and it tied the game at 1-1. That would be the score at the half, with the Blue Devils outshooting the Black Bears 6-4.
CCSU scored the first goal of the second half after Maine conceded a free kick in the 64th minute. Halligan put the ball in the net to put the Blue Devils on top 2-1.
The Black Bears came back quickly with a goal of their own about a minute later, when third-year forward Charlene Achille headed in a Pellerin cross past the keeper. Achille also added another tally in the 69th minute, when she received a pass from Marie-Pier Gougeon and fired it past the keeper on the right. Achille’s goal total now rests at four, making her Maine’s leading scorer. The Black Bears sorely missed her for several games early in the season when she was out with an injury.
The Blue Devils were able to tie the game in the 82nd minute. After a series of passes inside the box, third-year forward Tori Sousa was able to beat Dube-Trempe on the to the right to send the game to overtime. The goal was Sousa’s second of the season and her third point, good enough for second on the team in both categories.
CCSU dominated the overtime periods, launching four shots on goal to Maine’s one. Dube-Trempe was up to the task, as only one shot was on target, and she made sure nothing hit the back of the net. After two overtimes, the game ended in a 3-3 draw.
It was the first draw for the season for Maine. It was the second for Central Connecticut, as their record falls to 3-3-2 on the season.
URI dominates UMaine
Maine was dominated in their own end by Rhode Island, who outshot UMaine 17-9, and took 11 corners to Maine’s four.
URI finally broke in the 34th minute, when first-year defenseman Simone Hansen chipped a corner kick into the net for the 1-0 advantage. The goal was Hansen’s second of the season.
The Rams were granted a penalty kick in the 37th minute after a trip inside the box, first-year forward Nicole Brennan scored easily to give URI a 2-0 lead. Brennan’s 17 goals are good enough for third on the team.
The Rams would make it 3-0 early in the second half when Brennan took a corner kick which was headed past Dube-Trempe by third-year midfielder Samantha Leyh. The Rams would control the rest of the game for a strong victory.
URI improves to 8-1-1 on the season after the win. The lone bright spot for Maine was the three-shot performance by Achille, who was unable to put one in the net for the Black Bears.
UMaine falls to 0-4-1 on the road and has only won one of their last four games. With several key players getting healthy, the Black Bears’ lineup should continue to improve.