University of Maine
New Hampshire
Field Hockey Drops America East Semifinal to UNH, 3-2
11/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
America East Semifinal Photos
DURHAM, N.H. -- The #4 seeded University of Maine field hockey team's season came to an end on Friday afternoon as they dropped a tough 3-2 decision to #1 seeded New Hampshire in an America East semifinal match-up. The Black Bears end the season with a 13-6 mark while UNH improves to 14-6.
Kelly Newton (Vancouver, B.C.) and Jocelyn Mitchell (Kanata, Ontario) scored for the Black Bears.
Maine jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 10:48 mark of the first half when Mitchell cashed in on her 16th goal of the season. The play developed as Newton carried the ball into the circle for Maine. A UNH defender broke up Newton's dribbling but the ball was slid across the circle where senior Brittney Cummings (Belfast, Maine) controlled the ball and tipped a shot towards the Wildcat cage. New Hampshire goalkeeper Katherine Nagengast made the save as the ball was kicked up into the air. Mitchell was in perfect position as she slammed the ball out of the air and into the back of the cage.
The Wildcats would tie the game just under two minutes later. Whitney Frates broke out for the Wildcats and carried the ball down field. Frates made a pass to Hayley Rausch, who was able to get behind the Maine defenders. Rausch settled the ball on her stick inside the circle and put a shot on the cage that beat Maine goalkeeper Brittany Fleck (Vancouver, B.C.)
The Black Bears would regain the lead at 19:40 when Newton found the back of the cage for the 19th time this season. Mitchell gathered the ball around midfield and dribbled the ball down the left sideline and into the Wildcat circle. Mitchell beat a defender and slapped a shot from the left side of the cage. Newton was settled on the right post and tapped the ball into the cage to put Maine up 2-1. For Newton, it was her 45th point of the season which ties her with Annie Elkanich for most points in a single season. Elkanich set the record during the 1996 season.
New Hampshire knotted things up at 27:59. The Wildcats would set up on a penalty corner with just over seven minutes remaining in the half. The ball was slid out to the middle as Kyle Lyons sent a rocket towards the right side of the Maine cage, right where Frates was set-up and able to tip in the shot to tie things at 2-2.
Fleck played a very solid first half for Maine as she had seven saves including a diving blocker save to keep the game scoreless entering the half.
The second half of the game featured a lot of back and forth, high intensity play. Fleck again came up huge with 10 minutes remaining in the second half. The Wildcats came on a rush but Fleck was able to make a kick save and then flash the blocker to deny the rebound shot, keeping the game scoreless with 9:30 to play.
With 7:06 remaining in the game, New Hampshire took their first lead of the day. Frates controlled the ball in the Maine circle and slid a pass through the middle to Rausch. Rausch was able to slide the ball into an open Maine cage to give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead.
The Black Bears would fight hard for the final seven minutes. With 3:10 remaining in the game, senior Kallie Aldus (Belfast, Maine) entered the game as an extra attacker as Fleck was pulled from the cage. Maine would have a few chances but just could not capitalize and tie the score. With 30 seconds remaining in regulation, Maine would draw a penalty corner. The Black Bears set up a play but New Hampshire was able to clear the ball out of the circle as the buzzer sounded, giving them the 3-2 victory.
Fleck finished the game with nine saves in 66:50 of play but takes the loss, falling to 13-5 on the season. Nagengast made five saves of her own and picks up the win, moving her to 14-6 on the season.
New Hampshire held the advantage in shots 18-12 and also had seven corners to Maine's six.
Senior Mallory Anderson (Hampton Falls, N.H.) and junior Stephanie Gardiner (Vancouver, British Columbia) were both named to the 2010 America East All-Tournament Team for their stellar efforts in the semifinal game.
The Black Bears end the season with 64 total goals and a 13-6 mark in their third straight trip to the America East Tournament.
-U-M-
