ORONO, Maine – Michelle Weis commandeered the Maine women's ice hockey team to a 2-2 overtime tie against the Providence Friars on Friday night, after netting the first and final goal to even the score in the final frame.
In between the pipes,
Carly Jackson made several spectacular saves to keep the Black Bears (7-5-1, 2-2-1) in the game including multiple diving split saves to stop one-on-one breakaways. The sophomore protected the net for a season high of 36 saves. The Friars (6-3-3, 3-1-1) crashed the net in overtime controlling the puck in the Black Bears defensive zone as Jackson tallied five crucial saves to help preserve the tie.
Three out of four goals were scored on power plays this game. Michelle Weis potted both of Maine's goals taking full advantage of the extra player on the ice. She saw the first goal of the game hit the back of the net with a swift backhander off a carefully placed pass from line mate
Brooke Stacey. Later on about midway through the third stanza, Maine displayed a quick 1-2-3 goal to tie up the score, 2-2, starting off with Tereza Vanisova using her speed and agility to tire out the Providence defenders opening up a passing lane between herself and
Alyson Matteau. After swapping the puck back-and-forth a few times, Vanisova switched things up sending a direct pass to Weis patiently waiting on the opposite side of the ice, as she sent a one-timer flying into the goal. Vanisova earned her second assist of the day recording her sixth game this season notching at least a pair of assists.
The Friars also saw both goals scored by a single player, Maureen Murphy, to increase her tally to six so far this season. She grabbed the only goal on an even playing field on Friday, finding the top shelf as she sent a bullet of a shot over Jackson's shoulder with less than a minute remaining in the first period. Providence snatched up the 2-1 lead, 7:42 into the third stanza, when Murphy snuck her shot through traffic over the goal line on a power play. Four different players grabbed assists for the Friars, including line mate Cassidy MacPherson, Rachel Rockwell, Brooke Boquist, and Avery Fransoo.
Playing the entire game in net for Providence registering 19 saves to maintain the tie, was Madison Myers. She caught a break in overtime seeing zero shots on frame from the Black Bears.
After playing their first overtime contest of the year, Maine will get a well-deserved day off before taking on UConn for a 2 p.m. puck drop on Sunday, November 12.
-UMaine-
