ORONO, Maine – After two overtime battles against Providence College last weekend, the No. 9 Maine Black Bears held on to their national ranking in the USCHO Division I Women's Hockey Poll while also clinching home ice in the WHEA Quarterfinals. Maine currently sits in third place in the conference, just one point behind second as they prepare to host their final series of the regular season welcoming No. 3 Boston College (BC).

In their last tilt back in October, Maine potted two goals against BC towards the end of the match looking for a comeback, before falling to the Eagles. Sophomore Lydia Murray and senior Catherine Tufts slotted in the Black Bear goals while four separate players tallied assists.
 
This upcoming weekend will be the final series of the regular season for both teams as fans will have the opportunity to watch the only two nationally ranked teams in the WHEA battle on Friday and Saturday at the Alfond Arena. The final tilt of the season on Saturday will be the Black Bears' senior game where five seniors will step on the ice at the Alfond Arena for their final regular season matchup before hosting quarterfinals next weekend. The seniors being recognized include: assistant captain Brooke Stacey, Catherine Tufts, Mikayla Rogers, Kristin Gilmour, and Victoria Hummel. As a special treat, the University of Maine's Screamin' Black Bear Pep Band will be entertaining the senior game on Saturday, February 17^th.


Boston College BY THE NUMBERS
4.25 : Goals per game
33.0 : Shots per game
2.09 : Goals against average
24.63% : Power play percentage
4.19 : Power plays per game
83.70% : Penalty kill percentage
4.8 : Penalties per game

The past week has been a busy one for the Eagles (26-3-3, 17-2-3 WHEA) as they played their way to the championship game of the Beanpot at the Conte Forum, battling Boston University into extra minutes before capturing their third straight Beanpot title and eighth overall, with a tight 4-3 OT victory. Rookie Daryl Watts was honored with MVP after potting two goals and one assist, including the game-tying goal, to help give her team extra time to make a comeback. In the first two games of the Beanpot, Watts added on three goals to reach an overall nation leading tally of 39 goals. Just behind her as the second leading scorer in the nation, sophomore Caitrin Lonergan helped out with four assists to help her accumulation of 40 so far this season.
 
In the first matchup of the Beanpot, BC faced Northeastern, taking them down 5-2 on February 6^th. After a couple days of rest, the Eagles took on UNH falling behind in the second period, 2-1, and never recovering. Despite the loss, BC still made it to the championship game to win it all on their home ice.
 
Other Eagles who helped make the title possible were junior Makenna Newkirk netting a hat trick against Northeastern in the first match and senior Katie Burt in net. Burt has started and played every minute of all 32 games this season posting an impressive .927 save percentage and 2.06 goals against average. Throughout the three tilts, the senior notched a total of 92 saves including eight overtime stops to help fend off the Terriers resulting in the Eagles winning the Beanpot title. The first place team in the conference, No. 3 BC, will have three days to rest up before heading to the Alfond Arena to take on No. 9 Maine.
 

MAINE BY THE NUMBERS
2.53 : Goals per game
29.0 : Shots per game
2.00 : Goals against average
10.09% : Power play percentage
3.41 : Power plays per game
86.61% : Penalty kill percentage
4.4 : Penalties per game
 
The No. 9 Black Bears (17-10-5, 11-7-4 WHEA) took the Friars into overtime in all three matches this season, battling to a 1-1 tie for their second draw last Friday afternoon. On Saturday, Providence barely edged out Maine with 2:03 left to play in overtime to take the 2-1 win. 
 
Catherine Tufts recorded a pair of goals against the Friars over the weekend, helping extend both matches into extra minutes. The senior added on to her tally of ten total goals this season. On Friday, a perfectly placed feed by sophomore Ebba Strandberg slid directly in front of net five minutes into the opening frame. Tufts, powered by momentum plus being tripped up by a defender, used her entire body to ensure the puck crossed over the goal line as she slid into the net with the puck to capture a commanding 1-0 lead for the Black Bears. She followed up tallying by once again tallying the first point of the game the following day, receiving a pass from junior Cailey Hutchison; Tufts knocked a shot off the far post and watched it bounce in behind the Friars goalie into the back of the net.
 
Rookie Anna Zikova added on her 11^th assist of the season along with four blocks while Rogers dished out her third helper. Zikova currently has the most assists in her class while Michelle Weis stands strong with nine goals.
 
Sophomore net minder Carly Jackson held off the Friars taking them into overtime in all three games this season. This past weekend, she turned away 57 scoring opportunities for the Friars while improving her goals against average to a remarkable 1.79 this season and maintain a consistence save percentage of .930 in 30 games played, starting in 29 of them.


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This February, the University of Maine community comes together with the support of the Maine Sports Commission to celebrate the achievements of women and girls in sports. We believe that participation in sports at all ages builds courage, strength, and character and provides women with the confidence and tools to become the leaders of tomorrow. Please join us at our games and celebration events throughout the month. 
To support UMaine Women's Athletics, please visit: our.umaine.edu/fillthesteins