America East Champions!

Sunday, November 5

Orono, ME

2:00 PM

University of Maine

11-1-6, 4-1-3

UMass Lowell

5-7-7, 3-2-3

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
UMass Lowell	1	1	0	0	2
Maine	2	0	0	1	3

11/5/2023 3:45:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Highlights

The Black Bears won the program's first-ever America East title, defeating UMass Lowell 3-2 in double overtime

ORONO, Maine – The University of Maine women's soccer team won the program's first-ever America East Championship with a 3-2 win over UMass Lowell in double overtime on Sunday afternoon at Mahaney Diamond.

Lara Kirkby's goal, her second of the contest, in the second overtime period proved to be the difference as Maine will advance to play in its first NCAA Tournament. The Black Bears will find out their next opponent during the NCAA Selection Show which will take place on Monday, Nov. 6 at 4 p.m. and be live streamed at NCAA.com.

Kayla Kraemer gave Maine a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute, cleaning up a loose ball in the box for her fourth goal of the season. Lara Kirkby made it 2-0 with a penalty-kick conversion in the 41st minute but the River Hawks cut the deficit with 13 seconds to go in the first half off of a Julia Edholm goal.

UMass Lowell sent the game to overtime after Calliste Brookshire converted on a penalty kick in the 84th minute.

Kirkby's game-winning goal was set up off a header in the center of the box by a UMass Lowell defender. The header came back to Doireann Fahey who sent a shot on the net. The shot hit off a defender and trickled back to Kirkby who rifled a left-footed shot into the back of the net for her second tally of the championship game.

Myla Schneider earned the Elite 18 Award for having the highest GPA among student-athletes competing in the championship. Abby Kraemer, Kristina Kelly, Rebecca Grisdale and Kirkby earned spots on the All-Tournament Team.

NOTABLES

Maine had the 18-14 edge in shots and a 10-5 advantage in shots on goal.
UMass Lowell ended the game with a 7-4 edge in corners.
Kira Kutzinski made two saves to earn her 11th win of the season.
Maine played in its sixth-ever title game and the first since 2010 … this marked the first time Maine hosted the America East Championship game in women's soccer.
This is the first-ever America East Championship for Maine women's soccer.
The Black Bears take home the university's second team title in the last calendar year (baseball).
Maine's 11 wins mark the most in a single-season since the team went 14-4-2 in 2006.
Myla Schneider earned the Elite 18 Award for having the highest GPA among student-athletes competing in the championship.
Abby Kraemer, Rebecca Grisdale and Kirkby earned spots on the All-Tournament Team.

-UMaine-