ORONO, Maine – After defeating Merrimack College, 5-1, last weekend for the Black Bears fourth-straight win, the No. 9 Maine women's ice hockey team looks to extend their nine-game unbeaten streak as they host the Merrimack Warriors for a pair of game at the Alfond Arena on January 19^th and 20^th.
 
The match on January 20^th will be the Black Bears' annual 'Skating Strides Against Breast Cancer Game', sponsored by FairPoint Communications with puck drop scheduled for 2 p.m. The Black Bears will be wearing special pink numbered jerseys, which will be auctioned off immediately following the game on Saturday, so make sure to stick around. All funds raised, including donations, will go to The Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing.
 
MERRIMACK BY THE NUMBERS
1.64 : Goals per game
24.6 : Shots per game
2.60 : Goals against average
6.59% : Power play percentage
3.64 : Power plays per game
75.90% : Penalty kill percentage
3.4 : Penalties per game
 
The Warriors lone goal against Maine was scored in the first two minutes of the second period tying the score up, 1-1. Dominique Kremer sent a pass off the wall for junior Katelyn Rae to skate onto and Rae pushed the puck towards net, angling a shot at the far back corner. With her fifth goal of the season, Rae continued to lead her team in points with 18 so far this season. Kremer handed out her second assist of her junior year.
 
Merrimack College currently holds an overall record of 8-14-3 (3-10-2 WHEA). The Warriors have a 3-5-1 record on the road this season.  
 
In net, Samantha Ridgewell stopped 14 shots in the second period against Maine, and a total of 23 saves tallied by the end of the final period. She currently has a .928 save percentage with a 2.22 goals against average.

No. 9 MAINE BY THE NUMBERS
2.79 : Goals per game
29.2 : Shots per game
2.00 : Goals against average
10.13% : Power play percentage
3.29 : Power plays per game
87.50% : Penalty kill percentage
4.4 : Penalties per game
 
The Black Bears remain in third place in the WHEA following the victory over Merrimack, improving their overall record to 15-6-3 and 9-3-2 in the conference, while also jumping up a ranking to ninth in the nation by the USCHO.

Sophomore defender Brittany Kucera opened up scoring against Merrimack College in their 5-1 victory and followed up her goal with an assist on the game-winner. Also helping out with assists, freshman Anna Zikova dished out a career-high three assists in a single match as Maine women's hockey took down Merrimack College. The rookie has currently accumulated a total of eight assists at this point in the season.
 
After recording one goal and two assists in the Black Bears only game of the week, sophomore  Tereza Vanisova held her spot at 9^th in the women's Division I scoring leaders. Her current total includes 13 goals and 24 assists while she rolls on a nine-game streak of registering at least one point.
 
Sophomore Carly Jackson impressively sits above all goaltenders in the Hockey East for her goals against average, 1.72 in 24 games. She also currently ranks second in the Hockey East for her .930 save percentage, accumulating 319 saves in 24 games.
 
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-UMaine-