GALLO LEADS MAINE PAST SACRED HEART, 9-0
Jennie Gallo posts three goals and assist for Black Bears

Jennie Gallo posts four-point game for Black Bears

ORONO, Maine-- The University of Maine women's ice hockey team exploded for four goals in the final 2:29 of the second period and broke the game wide open as it defeated Sacred Heart University 9-0 on Friday night in the season-opener for both teams. Jennie Gallo (Castlegar, British Columbia) led the way for the Black Bears with a hat-trick and an assist.

Maine got on the board just 4:57 into the game when Myriam Croussette (Baie-Comeau, Quebec) beat Sacred Heart goalie Raelene Sydor with a power play goal. Jenna Ouellette (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and rookie Chloe Tinkler (Wabush, Newfoundland) each assisted on the first goal of the season for the Black Bears. The Black Bears added a second power play goal at 17:47 when Gallo scored off assists from Dawn Sullivan (Enfield, Nova Scotia) and Ashley Norum (Fairbanks, Alaska). The Black Bears took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

Jordan Colliton (Blackie, Alberta) beat Raelene just 1:55 into the second period with an unassisted goal, giving Maine a 3-0 cushion. The game remained 3-0 until Maine's four-goal explosion in the final 2:29 of the second period.

Rookie Brianne Kilgour (Hamilton, Ontario) notched her first collegiate goal when she notched her first collegiate goal at 17:31. Taryn Peacock (Calgary, Alberta) assisted on the goal by Peacock. Norum notched her first goal of the season 41 second later on a setup from Ouellette and Gallo. Gallo tallied a goal of her own just 46 seconds later from Sullivan. Captain Amy Stech (Duluth, Minn.) got into the scoring column when she scored her first of the season with just 30 seconds remaining in the period, giving Maine a 7-0 lead.

Maine held the 7-0 lead until 15:42 into the third period. Elyce Thomas (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) brought the puck over the blueline and dropped it back to Ouellette, who had her shot from inside the circle beat Sydor.

Gallo got the hat trick at 17:12 as she found the back of the net for the third time in the game. Jessica Bond (Namur, Quebec) assisted on the ninth goal of the game for the Black Bears.

Maine had an impressive 49 shots on goal in the game. The Black Bears outshot Sacred Heart 49-16 in the game.

Maine goalie Candice Currier (Goffstown, N.H.) made 16 saves in goal and recorded her first career shutout. Sydor made 40 saves in goal for the Pioneers.

The two teams return to action on Saturday, Sept. 26 when the two teams finish their two-game series at 2 p.m.