Auburn, ME – CMCC Women's Hockey suffered a 4-1 loss to the University of New England Nor'easters on home ice Saturday night, making it back-to-back defeats on the weekend against two tough opponents. The Mustangs were held to a season-low 19 shots while taking a season-high 20 penalty minutes in a feisty game.
UNE outshot Central Maine 12-3 in the first period with chances coming on two power plays. However, it looked like the teams would get through the opening frame scoreless when it remained 0-0 headed into the final minute. That changed when Maisie Hiltabrand let a shot go from the right point with 34 seconds left. The puck appeared to redirect off a skate and past goaltender Tatum Hunt for a 1-0 lead.
Play turned very physical in the second period with Alexandra Hammerton picking up an early hooking penalty. UNE scored moments after the penalty came to an end with a wrap-around pass from Gabby Rowe deflecting off Hunt's stick and through the five-hole for a 2-0 lead.
A scrum in front of the Nor'easters net saw four roughing penalties handed out at the 8:20 mark, and captain Kylee Spugnardi received one of her own just over a minute later. While nothing came from that stretch of play, the visitors did score a powerplay goal later on after Lauren Hanlon and Fiona Landry were given penalties 30 seconds apart.
Haley Vadenais swept the puck behind the net on the five-on-three. Jenna Hunt saw her centering pass deflect towards the goal and Lilyan Blood got her stick to it to knock the puck off the left pad of Hunt before trickling across the goal line. The tally at 13:05 into the second made it 3-0 UNE.
CMCC would respond before the intermission. Gloria San Pedro found Emma Knowles at the side of the net. The Kents Hill School product powered to the crease, causing havoc once more as she was swarmed by defenders. Somehow the puck found its way into the back of the net under goaltender Lily Hillsgrove to cut the deficit to two with 2:35 left. It was Knowles' 14th goal of the year.
The Mustangs emerged from the locker room looking to find a way back into the game, putting eight more shots on net in the final 17 minutes. But the Nor'easters held firm and sealed the deal on a goal by Mae Buchanan with 6:35 remaining.
UNE outshot CMCC 32-19 and went 1-for-8 on the power play. Central Maine now sits at 6-2-0 in their inaugural campaign. The Mustangs look to bounce back against Bates College on Tuesday, January 28th. Puck drop against the Bobcats is scheduled for 8:50 pm.
