LOWELL, Mass. --
Brianna Ricker's second goal of the day came in double overtime as the No. 15 Black Bears completed their regular season with a 5-4 victory at UMass Lowell on Sunday afternoon.
The Black Bears will now enter America East Championship play as they will travel to Palo Alto, Calif. for postseason action at Stanford. Maine will enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed and will meet Cal in the first round. Stay tuned to GoBlackBears.com for all postseason game dates and times.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
- The Black Bears jumped out to a 1-0 advantage, 26:23 into the first half when Brittany Smith notched her first goal of the season. Libby Riedl began the play, dribbling the ball deep into the circle before sending a pass across the middle. Smith was able to tip the shot in, giving Maine an early edge on the lone goal of the first half.
- Maine extended its lead to 2-0 early in the second half. Working off a penalty corner, Riley Field ripped a shot from the point and Ricker was able to locate her stick and redirect the initial shot past the keeper and into the back of the cage.
- Just 48-seconds after Maine's second goal, the River Hawks got on the board when Torrie Huk recorded her 11th goal of the season.
- Huk's goal began a streak of four unanswered goals for the River Hawks as UMass Lowell was able to build a 4-2 advantage over a 16-minute gap. Huk was joined in the scoring column by Brooke Roberts, Jenna Berger and Morgan Irons.
- Morgan Anson ended Maine's scoring drought at 65:57. Maine, once again working off a set penalty corner, fired a shot which was saved in front by the River Hawk keeper. However, the rebound found Anson who slid the ball around the defender for her second goal of the year, bringing Maine within one of the River Hawks' lead.
- An original shot by the Black Bears was saved away and redirected all the way out of the circle. The rebound found Field who dribbled into the circle and ripped a shot from the wing, through a crowd, and into the cage. The goal knotted things up at 4-4, eventually sending the game into overtime.
- UMass Lowell's Huk had a great chance in the final seconds of the first overtime when she dribbled in one-on-one with Maine goalkeeper Mia Borley. Borley committed to the play, coming out of the cage before making a diving save at Huk's feet to direct the ball out of play on the sideline.
- Ricker was able to win it for the Black Bears early in the second overtime period. Casey Crowley carried the ball into the River Hawk zone before feeding a pass through the middle of the circle to Ricker. Ricker gathered, put a quick reverse move on the keeper, and deposited the shot in the cage for the game-winner.
The Black Bears outshot UMass Lowell 13-11 and held a slight 6-5 advantage in penalty corners. Borley made seven saves in the cage for the Black Bears and improved to 14-3 on the season. Berkhout turned away eight shots for the River Hawks and ends her season at 8-10.
-UMaine-
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