TWO QUICK STRIKES LIFT MAINE INTO 2-2 TIE WITH NORTHEASTERN
Maine's Missy Denk and Danielle Ward score two goals in a 16-second span in the third period

Junior forward Dawn Sullivan assisted on the game-tying goal for the Black Bears

ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's ice hockey team battled back from a two goal, third period deficit to earn a tie against the Northeastern Huskies Friday afternoon at Alfond Arena. With the tie, Maine moves to 4-6-2 on the season and 0-2-2 in league play. The Huskies are now 7-2-4 overall and 1-1-3 in league action. The Black Bears got goals from freshman Missy Denk (Poplar Grove, Ill.) and Danielle Ward (Lansing, Mich.).

Northeastern opened the scoring 10:56 into the first period after a pair of penalties forced the teams to skate 4-on-4. Claire Santostefano would win the draw for the Huskies to Maine goaltender Brittany Ott's (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) left. Siena Falino would control the puck for Northeastern and slide the puck along the boards to the back of the net. Santostefano picked up the puck behind the Maine net and slid a pass right in front of the Maine net. The puck kicked off a Maine skate and popped up into the air, sailing over Ott's right shoulder and into the back of the net to give the Huskies a 1-0 advantage.

The Huskies would extend their lead on a power play goal just 1:12 into the second period. Stephanie Gavronsky blasted a shot from the point that was knocked down in front by Kristi Kehoe. Kehoe then tried to stuff a shot into the back of the net but Ott would make the save. However, the puck would again pop up into the air as Casey Pickett slammed the puck home to Ott's right.

The Black Bears would battle back with a third period surge. Jennie Gallo (Castlegar, British Columbia) would carry the puck into the Northeastern zone and find Myriam Croussette (Bair-Comeau, Quebec) in the right corner. Croussette would control the puck and send a pass into the slot where Denk was ready and tipped the puck past Husky goaltender Florence Schelling. The goal was Denk's first of her career.

Just 16 seconds later, the Black Bears would knot the score. Junior captain Dawn Sullivan (Enfield, Nova Scotia) controlled the puck in the Northeastern zone, skating into the right circle and tossing a pass into the slot. Ward was in perfect position and one-timed the puck past Schelling to tie things up at 2-2.

The game would move into overtime. Northeastern came charging on a rush with 3:30 left in the overtime. A pass was sent through the middle to Pickett who was all alone on the left post but Ott was able to slide across the crease and get her right pad on the puck to make the save and keep the score tied. Both teams would battle hard for possesion throughout the remaining minutes of the game but no one was able to light the lamp as the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

Ott was again solid in net for Maine as she made 29 saves and moves her record to 3-5-2. Schelling's record moves to 6-2-4 with the tie as she made 24 stops of her own. Northeastern killed off all seven of Maine's power play opportunites and scored one power play goal of their own.

The Black Bears skate back into action on Tuesday, Nov. 23 when they battle the University of New Hampshire in a neutral site game at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.