ORONO, Maine - The University of Maine women's hockey team fell in overtime to No. 4 Boston College by a score of 4-3. The decision now puts the Black Bears at 9-6-4 overall and 4-4-3 in Hockey East play while the Eagles improve to 11-4-1 overall and 6-2-1 in Hockey East action. Kelly McDonald (Ancaster, Ontario) found the back of the net twice for the Black Bears and Brittany Dougherty (Chesterfield, Mich.) netted a goal as well.
Boston College took an early 1-0 lead just over a minute into the first period on a goal by Jackie Young. On the play, she was assisted by Ashley Motherwell and Alex Carpenter. The Black Bears responded at 17:35 on a power play when Kelly McDonald grabbed her first career goal to tie the game at 1-1. Assisting her on the goal was Danielle Ward (Lansing, Mich.), her ninth of the season, and Melissa Gagnon (St. Gilles, Quebec), giving her seven on the season. McDonald struck again for the Black Bears at 19:01 for her second goal of the game and of her career. She found the back of the net on a wrist-shot to give Maine a 2-1 lead. Danielle Ward earned her second assist of the game and her tenth of the season. The first period would end with the score 2-1 in favor of the Black Bears.
The Eagles found their second goal of the game when Alex Carpenter grabbed found the back of the net, evening the score at 2-2. The goal came 13:14 into the period and was assisted by Emily Field. Black Bear goalie Brittany Ott (St. Clair Shores, Mich.) saved the additional 12 shots she faced in the period, sending the game into the third period with a score of 2-2.
Boston College took a 3-2 lead when Kate Leary tallied a goal 3:27 into the period. Blake Bolden and Emily Pfalzer found Leary on the play for the assists. Black Bear Brittany Dougherty tied the game up at 3-3 when she snuck a shot through the legs of Boston College goalie Corinne Boyles at 17:08. Jennifer More (Deloraine, Manitoba) found Dougherty on the play for her sixth assist of the season. The score remained at 3-3 for the remaining 2:52, sending the game into overtime.
Almost midway into the overtime period, Boston College's Melissa Bizzari found the back of the net to give the Eagles a 4-3 overtime win. Caitlin Walsh found Bizzari on the play to earn the assist.
Brittany Ott stopped 35 of the 39 shots she faced on the night for the Black Bears. With the decision, her record drops to 6-5-2. Corinne Boyles made 21 saves on the 24 shots she saw, improving her record to 11-4-1. Maine took advantage on the power play by scoring on two out of the three chances they had. Boston College was 0-for-2 with the advantage.
The two teams will face off again tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. for the finale of the two game series.