AMHERST, MA. – The University of Maine field hockey team fell against defending national champions #1 Northwestern on Sunday afternoon, 5-1.
 
The first half would be a defensive battle from both sides, with both goalkeepers, Annabel Skubisz for Northwestern and Mallory Drayer for Maine, playing their role perfectly.
 
Northwestern would find the scoreboard first 3:31 into the third quarter as Benta Baekers (1) fired home the opening goal on a penalty corner. Kayla Blas (1) and Alia Marshall (1) picked up the assists on the play.
 
Baekers (2) would find the back of the net for the second time of the third quarter on an unassisted goal.
 
Baekers (3) would keep the pressure up as she scored her third goal of the third quarter, receiving a pass from Lauren Wadas (1) who received the ball from Lane Herbert (1).
 
Peyton Halsey would cap off the big third quarter by the Wildcats as she scored her first goal of the season and her teams fourth goal of the third quarter.
 
Bhreagh Kennedy got the Black Bears on the board in the fourth quarter as she redirected a perfectly place ball into the back of the net from Poppy Lambert (2) on the penalty corner. Tereza Holubcova (2) picked up an assist on the set up.
 
Baekers would put an end to the scoring on the day as she scored her fourth of the contest in the closing minutes. Wadas (2) picked up the assist on the score.
 
Maine (0-2), returns to Orono for the home opening weekend on Friday, Sept. 3 against Dartmouth and on Sunday, Sept. 5 against Quinnipiac.
 
-UMaine-