ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's ice hockey team improves to 2-0-0 on the season after a 11-4 victory over the Sacred Heart Pioneers on Saturday afternoon at Alfond Arena. The Black Bears were led Taryn Peacock (Calgary, Alberta) who notched two goals and two assists for the Black Bears. Jenna Ouellette (Winnipeg, Manitoba) chipped in to the offensive attack with four assists on the afternoon.
The Black Bears again got off to a quick start, getting on the scoreboard just 2:08 into the first period. Jordan Colliton (Blackie, Alberta) received a pass from Ouellette and beat Sacred Heart goalie Raelene Sydor with a shot from the top of the slot that went five hole. Abby Barton (Woodstock, New Brunswick) added to the Maine lead less than a minute later when she notched her first goal of the season, an unassisted tally.
The Black Bears made it a 3-0 lead at 4:56 of the first when Melissa Gagnon (St. Gilles, Quebec) and Ouellette teamed up to find Jennie Gallo (Castlegar, British Columbia). For Gallo, it was her fourth goal of the season in just two games. The Black Bears took a 4-0 lead when Peacock notched her first goal of the season from Myriam Croussette (Baie-Comeau, Quebec).
Maine when up 5-0 when Brianne Kilgour (Hamilton, Ontario) notched her second career goal from Dominique Goutsis (Coquitlam, British Columbia) at 13:01.
The Black Bears continue to apply pressure and found the back of the net once again when Ouellette and Gallo teamed up to find Lexie Hoffmeyer (Grand Blanc, Mich.) at 17:12. Maine closed out the scoring in the first period when Barton scored her second goal of the period, unassisted.
Sacred Heart got on the board 6:17 into the second period when Lauren Fontaine notched her first goal of the season from Nicole Palazzo.
Maine got the goal back less than two minutes later when Croussette stuffed the puck past Sacred Heart goalie Emily Siira from the left post. Amy Stech (Duluth, Minn.) started the play with a pass to Jessica Bond (Namur, Quebec) who fired a shot on goal which was saved, before Croussette was able to collect the rebound.
The Black Bears continued to add to their lead when Peacock scored her second goal of the game at 12:48 of hte second period from Kilgour.
Sacred Heart scored its second goal of the period at 14:41. Fontaine had a shot that Maine goalie Brittany Ott (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) saved, but the rebound went right to Palazzo who was able to find the back of the net. The Pioneers made it a 9-3 game at 17:20 when Sara Reddington scored from Palazzo and Fontaine.
Maine got the goal back at 18:27 when Croussette received a pass from Peacock, skated around her defenseman and through the left face-off circle, beating Siira.
The Black Bears added to their lead with Gallo's second goal of the game and her team leading fifth overall. The goal came just 1:45 into the third period on a feed from Ouellette.
Sacred Heart would get a fourth goal 13:11 into the period from Brittany Hartman for the final scoring of the afternoon.
Ott got the victory in her first collegiate start in net for the Black Bears, making 11 saves in helping Maine improve to 2-0-0 on the season. Emily Siira took the loss for the Pioneers after making 27 saves. Siira falls to 0-1-0 on the young season.
The Black Bears return to action on Friday night when they travel to Providence College for a Hockey East match-up at 7 p.m.