BOSTON, Mass. – The Black Bears will be opening up 2018 on the road as they travel down to Boston for a two-game series against the Boston University Terriers this upcoming weekend after a month long holiday break.
 
In their last meeting back in October, Maine defeated Boston University 4-2 at the Alfond Arena. Junior Alyson Matteau led the attack tucking away two goals and an assist while sophomore Vendula Pribylova contributed a goal and assist. On the other end of the ice, freshman Nara Elia and senior Victoria Bach put away the Terrier's two goals.
 
BOSTON UNIVERSITY BY THE NUMBERS
3.14 : Goals per game
32.5 : Shots per game
2.81 : Goals against average
22.09% : Power play percentage
4.1 : Power plays per game
75.61% : Penalty kill percentage
4.2 : Penalties per game
 
The Terriers are coming into this matchup already warmed up after taking on Princeton down in New Jersey on New Year's weekend. The Boston University women took a hard hit losing 4-1 in the first of the two-game series, however, they bounced back the following day only giving up one goal as they forced an overtime, 1-1, draw.
 
Junior Reagan Rust snuck in the Terrier's lone goal in the tie on Sunday while also handing out an assist to sophomore Breanna Scarpaci for their only goal on Saturday and Scarpaci's first goal of the season.
 
After her stellar performance in December in addition to sitting on top of the points chart with a combination of 23 goals and 17 assists this season, Bach earned runner-up for the Hockey East Player of the Month (December).
 
In net for the Terriers, senior Erin O'Neil stopped a season-high 41 shots in the 1-1 duel with Princeton to help her achieve Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week.

MAINE BY THE NUMBERS
2.62 : Goals per game
29.1 : Shots per game
2.10 : Goals against average
10.00% : Power play percentage
3.33 : Power plays per game
87.34% : Penalty kill percentage
4.6 : Penalties per game
 
The Maine women's ice hockey team closed out the year of 2017 with a bang after taking a pair of wins and battling to an overtime draw with Vermont in the beginning of December. Heading into the New Year, the Black Bears open up play with a 12-6-3 (6-3-2 WHEA) record bumping them up to fourth place in the conference, just one point away from third.
 
Throughout the three games against Vermont in December, sophomore Carly Jackson stopped a total of 60 shots while averaging a goals against average of 1.85 this season and a save percentage of .925, good enough to help her achieve runner-up for Hockey East Goaltender of the Month (December). She earned her second shutout of the season as the Black Bears cruised past the Catamounts, 2-0 in the first game of the series. Jackson turned down 17 shots to help protect the shutout.
 
Freshman Anna Zikova helped secure the 2-0 shutout against Vermont after tucking the puck into the net just 18 seconds into the second period for Maine's second goal of the game and her second goal of the season. The following weekend, Zikova added on two helpers to the 4-1 win over Vermont.
 
Senior Brooke Stacey registered two goals and five assists over the course of the three games against Vermont. These points added on to her total of nine goals and 13 assists on the season.  
 
Sophomore Tereza Vanisova posted back-to-back games putting away Maine's first goal of the game against Vermont. Vanisova dished out an assist in each game in December while registering four consecutive games recording two points.

 
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-UMaine-