The University of Maine women’s ice hockey team is scheduled for two away games in Boston this week. The Black Bears, holding a record of 10-16-3 overall and 6-10-3 in Hockey East, will play against #5 Northeastern University on Thursday, February 5 at 7:00 PM and Boston University on Saturday, February 7 at 4:00 PM. Both games are set to take place at Walter Brown Arena.
Last weekend, Maine secured four conference points by defeating Boston College 4-3 on Friday before falling in overtime 5-4 on Sunday. The team recorded three powerplay goals during Sunday’s match, marking a season-high. Freshman Mackenzie Podewell was named Player of the Week by Hockey East after achieving two goals, two assists, and winning 67% of her faceoffs.
In addition to Podewell’s performance, other notable contributors over the weekend included Ava Stevenson with two goals and two assists; Stephanie Jacob with two goals; Isabelle Michaud with one goal and one assist; Lily Fetch with one goal and one assist; Lulu Rucinski with two assists; Mikayla Boarder, Ali Altiman, and Kendall Sundby each added an assist. Goaltender Kiia Lahtinen made 32 saves on Friday while M. Ryan stopped 20 shots on Sunday.
Following these results, Maine has moved up to sixth place in the Hockey East standings. Podewell’s four-point weekend brought her season total to 14 points, tying her with fellow rookie Isabelle Michaud for the team lead.
Earlier this season in November, Maine lost both games against Northeastern at home by scores of 3-1 and 2-1. Goaltender Kiia Lahtinen played both matches. Mikayla Boarder and Isabelle Michaud were the scorers for Maine in those contests.
Northeastern enters this matchup atop the Hockey East standings with a record of 21-6-1 overall (16-1-1 HE). Last weekend they tied Holy Cross before winning a shootout for an extra point and then won their next game outright. Northeastern is unbeaten in its last six games—their most recent loss was to Boston University on January 13 during the Beanpot tournament—and each of their last seven games has been decided by one goal. Lily Shannon (16 goals, 19 assists) and Stryker Zablocki (13 goals, 20 assists) are currently leading the Huskies in points this season. Goaltender Lisa Jonsson has appeared in 20 games so far and leads Hockey East play with a goals-against average of 1.16 and a .953 save percentage.
Maine previously split a series with Boston University earlier this season at Alfond Arena—winning the first game 3-1 before losing the second contest 2-1 on November 7th and 8th respectively—with Lahtinen again serving as goaltender for both nights. Scorers for Maine included Isabelle Michaud, Lily Fetch, and Ava Stevenson (who had two goals).
Boston University recently swept Merrimack College last weekend but had experienced a four-game losing streak prior to that series. The Terriers have an overall record of 9-15-3 (7-9-2 HE) and currently sit fifth in the Hockey East standings. Sydney Healey leads BU in all major offensive categories including goals (15), assists (9), points (24), power play goals (2), and game-winning goals (3). Mari Pietersen and Michelle Pasiechnyk have shared goaltending duties throughout the season.
After these upcoming road games, Maine will return home for matches against Vermont on February 13 at Alfond Arena followed by New Hampshire on February 14—the latter being their final regular-season home game.
“Maine earned four conference points after beating Boston College 4-3 on Friday, and losing in overtime 5-4 on Sunday.”
“Rookie Mackenzie Podewell was named the Player of the Week by Hockey East after scoring two goals, two assists and winning 67% of her faceoffs.”