University of Maine
Connecticut
Black Bears Drop WHEA Opener 3-1 to Connecticut
11/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
STORRS, Conn. – The University of Maine women's ice hockey team opened Women's Hockey East play with a 3-1 loss to the University of Connecticut Huskies on Saturday afternoon. The loss drops Maine back to 4-5-0 on the season and 0-1-0 in WHEA play. The Huskies improved to 2-7-1 on the season and 1-2-1 in WHEA action. Senior Jennie Gallo (Castlegar, British Columbia) tallied the only goal for the Black Bears.
After a scoreless first period in which Maine outshot Connecticut 9-6, the Huskies would get on the scoreboard first early in the second period. Casey Knajdek found the back of the net just 1:44 into the second period as UConn skated on the power play. The play was set-up when Kiana Nauheim slid a pass to Sam Evelyn. Evelyn then found Knajdek in the Maine zone as she fired a shot that snuck past Maine goaltender Brittany Ott (St. Clair Shores, Mich.), putting the Huskies up 1-0.
Jocelyn Slattery would add her second goal of the season to extend the Husky lead to 2-0, 10:09 into the second period.
After Taylor Gross extended the Husky lead to 3-0 with an even strength goal at 11:00 into the third period, the Black Bears would get their first goal of the day.
Gallo cashed in on her eighth goal of the season and the 13th power play goal for Maine of the season 12:22 into the third period. Myriam Croussette (Baie-Comeau, Quebec) controlled the puck in the Husky zone for Maine. Croussette slid a pass back to Melissa Gagnon (St. Gilles, Quebec) who then hit Gallo with a pass. Gallo gathered the puck and slipped a shot past Husky goaltender Alexandra Garcia to cut the UConn lead to 3-1.
Maine would battle for the final minutes of the game but fall short to UConn, 3-1.
Ott made 17 saves but takes the loss for Maine, falling to 3-4-0 on the season and 0-1-0 in WHEA action. Garcia picked up her second win on the season after making 26 saves for the Huskies.
The Black Bears held the advantage in shots 27-20 and also had seven power play opportunities to UConn's four. Maine was 1/7 with the extra skater as UConn was 1/4 on the power play.
The Black Bears return to action tomorrow afternoon with their second WHEA game of the season as they travel to take on Providence College at 2 p.m.
-U-M-
