MAINE SWEEPS WEEKEND SERIES AGAINST SACRED HEART WITH 11-0 WIN ON SATURDAY
Myriam Croussette and Danielle Ward each score two goals for Black Bears

Myriam Croussette scored a pair of goals for the Black Bears

ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine women's ice hockey team moved to 2-0-0 to start the season as they picked up a 11-0 victory over visiting Sacred Heart Saturday afternoon. It was a day of firsts for Maine as several first year players scored their first goals as a Black Bear. Sacred Heart falls to 0-2-0 with the loss.

The Black Bears came out on fire in the first period, dominating the play and out shooting Sacred Heart by a 16-1 margin. Maine got on the board 13:59 into the half when Danielle Ward (Lansing, Mich.) cleaned up a rebound, putting the Black Bears up 1-0. For Ward, it was her first goal as a Black Bear. Ashley Norum (Fairbanks, Alaska) started the play by finding Brittany Dougherty (Chesterfield, Mich.). Dougherty fired a shot on net that was kicked aside by Pioneer goaltender Alexius Schutt and right onto Ward's stick who put the puck into the back of the net.

The Black Bears opened things up in the second period, scoring five goals in the period to extend their lead to 6-0.

Maine capitalized on the power play 2:27 into the first period after Melissa Gagnon (St. Gilles, Quebec) fired a shot from the point. Jennie Gallo (Castlegar, British Columbia) tipped the shot in front to the side of the net. Dominique Goutsis (Coquitlam, British Columbia) clean up the wide tip and snuck it by Schutt.

Maine's next three goals would all be milestones for a trio of freshman. Jenny Kistner (Peoria, Ill.) found the back of the net for her first career goal as a Black Bear to put Maine up 3-0. Brianne Kilgour (Hamilton, Ontario) setup the goal for Maine as she stole the puck in the Pioneer zone and found Kistner in front of the net.

Kerry Mayhew (Littleton, Ontario) was next for Maine to find the back of the net for the first time in her career. Gallo worked the puck to sophomore Chloe Tinkler (Wabush, Newfoundland) who found Mayhew for Maine's fourth goal.

Freshman Kristi King (Lake Elmo, Minn.) scored her first collegiate goal just 12 seconds later when she stole the puck in front of the Pioneer net and fired a wrist shot to put Maine up 5-0.

Dougherty ended the scoring in the second period for Maine when she notched her second goal of the season. Dawn Sullivan (Enfield, Nova Scotia) and Ward assisted on the score for Maine.

Up 6-0 to start the third period, Maine once again rattled off five goals in a period to end the game.

Myriam Croussette (Baie-Comeau, Quebec) snuck a shot into the back of the Pioneer net to start things off in the third period. Kayla Kaluzny (Calgary, Alberta) made the goal happen with a nice pass to Croussette. For Kaluzny, it was her first career assist.

Ward picked up her second goal of the contest 4:05 into the third period to put Maine up 8-0.

After Croussette cleaned up her own rebound and Kilgour notched an unassisted goal, the Black Bears would get their final goal of the contest from Tinkler to give Maine the 11-0 win.

Candice Currier (Goffstown, N.H.) picked up the win in net for Maine as she moves to 1-0-0 on the season after recording her third shutout and the Black Bears' second straight. Currier made seven saves in the win. Kylie Smith (Apple Valley, Minn.) saw her first regular season action in net for Maine as she played the third period. Smith shut down the Pioneers on the five shots she faced. Schutt made 32 saves for Sacred Heart but picks up the loss and falls to 0-2-0.

The Black Bears outshot Sacred Heart 59-12 and out scored them in the series 18-0.

Maine returns to action on Oct. 9 when they host Mercyhurst at Alfond Arena. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.