Maine Blanks Women's Ice Hockey, 4-0
Links: Box Score
ORONO, Maine– The Black Bears would score three times in the opening frame and Maine goaltender Meghann Treacy would become one of just four goalies to shutout the Warriors as the Merrimack College women's ice hockey team fell at Maine in Hockey East action on Saturday afternoon, 4-0.
The Basics
Score: Maine 4, Merrimack 0
Records: Merrimack (4-23-1, 2-15-1 HEA) | Maine (8-19-2, 4-15-1 HEA)
Location: Alfond Arena | Orono, Maine
How It Happened
Maine would open up the game with three unanswered goals in the first period, two of which coming in a under a minute span. Jessica Vallotton got the first for Maine on a chance from the right side that she would stuff under the pads of freshman goaltender Samantha Ridgewell (Outlook, Saskatchewan) just over eight minutes in.
Four minutes later, the Vallotton would take a faceoff from Maine's own end up ice and score again to extend the lead to 2-0. Merrimack then took a penalty just 11 seconds after Maine's second score, and the Black Bears would net their third of the game just 26 seconds into the power play to make it 3-0, scoring two goals in a 35 second span.
The early portion of the second period didn't see too much action until freshman Annie Boeckers (Otsego, Minn.) got a breakaway opportunity but just lost the puck off her blade on a deke. Following the breakaway, the Warriors maintained pressure in the offensive zone, firing off four shots in short order and getting some quality looks on net, but none that would find their way in. Merrimack would go on to outshoot the Black Bears 7-5 in the second period but were held scoreless.
Hockey East Rookie of the Month for January freshman Katelyn Rae (Courtice, Ontario) would create two really nice look for herself early in the third, the first on a wraparound just two minutes into the period that she was unable to stuff home. The second came on a rush from the left side, firing a shot glove side looking to go top corner but just missing wide.
Vallotton would complete her hat trick at 12:12 of the final period to extend Maine's lead to 4-0, and Treacy would hold strong in net for the Black Bears, keeping the Warriors scoreless for the duration of the game.
Inside The Numbers
- Maine outshot the Warriors in the game 21-19. Merrimack was 0-4 on the power play while the Black Bears were 1-2. Boeckers led all skaters with 4 SOG.
- This is just the fourth time in 29 games that the Warriors have been held scoreless in their inaugural season.
- The Black Bears just edged the Warriors in faceoffs, as they were favored 25 to 24.
- Merrimack now sits six points back of a playoff spot in the Hockey East standings, but can get two of those points back against Maine tomorrow.
Up Next
The Warriors return to the ice tomorrow in Maine for their season-series finale with the Black Bears at 2:00 p.m.
--
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.
