Auburn, ME – It took 65 shots to score three goals, but that was enough Friday night for the CMCC women's hockey team to maintain its undefeated start to its inaugural season with a 3-2 win over Dartmouth College at home. Lauren Hanlon, Emma Knowles, and Fiona Landry had a goal each for the Mustangs while goaltender Tatum Hunt made 15 saves to earn the win.

Despite the lopsided shot differential, Dartmouth nearly pulled off the win thanks to a heroic goaltending performance from Maggie Emerson. The former NCAA Division I netminder for the Big Green is back on the ice after recovering from a broken back suffered after the 2022-23 season, and she nearly broke the backs of the Mustangs offense with a 62 save performance.

It certainly started promisingly for the hosts. Lauren Hanlon scored just 1:46 into the first period to give Central Maine a 1-0 lead. The defenseman out of Saint Dominic Academy picked up the puck behind her own net and weaved her way up ice, cruising into the offense zone down the left wing. Her shot from the left circle picked the top corner, blocker side, for her second goal of the season.

Emerson did not need much of a warm-up though, as the goaltender from Belmont, MA made 26 saves in just the first 17 minutes alone to keep her team in the contest.

Emma Knowles found a way past her in the second period to keep her streak of scoring in every game so far this season alive. The dual sport soccer and hockey player scored with her usual backhand shot, this time on a rebound with 11:11 left in the frame. Kylie Boardman sent a shot from the right wing that captain Kylie Spugnardi redirected in front. Emerson made the right pad save, but the puck came right to Knowles in the slot who buried it for her team-leading sixth of the season.

It looked like things might be done and dusted when Fiona Landry scored in the third period. The defenseman out of Lewiston High School tallied her second of the campaign 5:09 into the frame. Taylor Melvin knocked the puck over to her on the right wing and Landry's wrist shot sneaked in on the short side with Jenna Buda and Loreesa Theriault Guay setting a double screen in front of the net.

But the Big Green offense came to life when down 3-0 trimming the deficit to just one in under three minutes.

First, Rachel Hall knocked down a clearing attempt after an offensive zone face-off. The defenseman's shot was blocked but it bounced and pinballed its way into the slot where Ellenia Paty knocked it into the net past a surprised Tatum Hunt. That made it 3-1 with 11:07 left in the game.

Less than a minute later, Catie Nemeskal led a foray into the offensive end. The forward tried to tuck a wrap-around shot inside the far post but Hunt got her stick to it. Molly Mendoza jammed it free and whacked the puck through the five-hole to suddenly make it a one-goal game.

Head coach Jordy Knoren used his timeout shortly thereafter to calm his team's nerves and the Mustangs responded by holding on from there. A tripping penalty against Hall with 2:34 left helped seal the deal, as CMCC continued its winning start for the program to move to 3-0-0.

Central Maine has a bit of a break in the schedule before its next game on the road. The Mustangs visit Wheaton College on November 9^th for a 5:00 pm contest. CMCC is next on home ice on Saturday, November 16^th when it welcomes twin cities rival Bates College across the bridge from Lewiston for the first of two meetings on the season. The Mustangs and Bobcats play at 5:30 pm.