ORONO, Maine -- The University of Maine women's ice hockey team defeated the Merrimack College Warriors, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon in the Alfond Arena.
The two Hockey East squads skated to a scoreless first period.
First Goal (1-0 Maine): Two minutes into the second period, Alyssa Wruble broke the scoreless tie. Taylor Leech forced a turnover in the neutral zone. The senior flipped the puck ahead to Wruble, who did the rest. The freshman made quick work of the Merrimack defense and gave her squad a 1-0 lead.
Second Goal (2-0 Maine): Ali Beltz added a power play goal for the Black Bears five minutes after the Wruble goal. The traffic in front of the Warriors' net was mostly created by Ally Johnson. The senior tried to stuff home a goal that was denied by Emma Gorski. Beltz found the loose puck and doubled the Maine lead.
Third Goal (3-0 Maine): Jen Costa forced a turnover in her zone and took the puck the length of the ice for the Black Bears' third goal of the afternoon. The graduate student out skated everyone on the ice before she made easy work of the Merrimack netminder. Early in the third period, Maine led by three.
Fourth Goal (3-1): Mere seconds into a power play opportunity, the Warriors scored their first goal of the afternoon. Ally Qualley fired a shot that was saved by Loryn Porter. The rebound bounced directly to Madison Oelkers, who did not miss her chance. The junior forward finally got her squad onto the board with the late goal.
Maine held onto the 3-1 lead to complete the weekend sweep.
Notes:
Loryn Porter stopped 29 shots for the Black Bears, while Emma Gorski tallied 14 saves for Merrimack.
Maine went 1 for 5 on its power play opportunities, as the Warriors were 2-6 on its player advantages.
The Black Bears blocked five shots and won 26 face-offs as a team.
Next:
Maine returns to the ice next Friday, January 28th. Puck drop at Providence is scheduled for 6:00 pm.
