Union Falls to Main

 Despite a late third period goal from sophomore Stefanie Thomson, the Union College women's ice hockey team fell 2-1 in overtime against the University of Maine on Friday. The game-winner came from captain Dawn Sullivan with 2:17 left to play in the extra frame of the non-conference match up. The Dutchwomen move to 3-14-1 and remain at 1-6-1 in the ECAC, while the Black Bears are now 10-7-4 with a 4-5-1 mark in the WHEA.

With only a few minutes remaining the overtime period, Maine forced their way into Union's defensive zone. After a failed attempt to clear the puck, freshman Jennifer More found Sullivan in front of netminder Kate Gallagher. The senior veteran sent a quick shot stick side, beating Gallagher and finding the top left corner of the net. It was More's fourth goal of the season.

The match was defined by extensive neutral zone play, with several battles along the boards and behind the nets. In the first half of the first period, there were only a total of six shots taken by both teams.

Union gained an advantage only 82 seconds into the game when they went on their first power play. Junior Rhianna Kurio had the first great chance, sending the puck into Maine's zone and recovering it for a hard shot on net. Goaltender Brittany Ott made the save, sending the shot off to her right.

At the 10:11 mark, it was the Dutchwomen's turn to kill off a penatly. Maine launched an offensive attack and freshman Brittney Huneke fired a commanding shot from the top of the slot. Gallagher, despite being screened, easily scooped up the puck for the save.

After a scoreless first period, Union came out with an immediate scoring opportunity from junior Jeannie Sabourin. Ott made back-to-back saves as junior Emma Rambo took a shot off of Sabourin's rebound. Immediately after the next face-off, Maine senior Dominique Goutsis flew down the ice to take a shot at Gallagher. The senior was able to cover the puck, and kept it in place as several bodies surrounded her in a scuffle.

With ten minutes left in the second frame, Union took another penalty. However, the Dutchwomen's offense kicked into gear with Rambo driving the puck into Maine's defensive zone. Kurio then went back hand on Ott's right side, but the netminder promptly blocked the shot and sent it wide.

Freshman Bryanne Panchuk, Union's leading point scorer, was a defensive force. While on the penalty kill, she constantly forced the puck outside and deflected a shot in front of the net. Her and Kurio's hustle helped fend off Maine's power play advances.

Special teams would return to the ice, though, as the Dutchwomen took two consecutive penalties and had a 5-on-3 disadvantage for 17 seconds. Senior Lauren Hoffman and Kurio each blocked a shot, helping keep the Black Bears at bay.

Maine nearly tallied the first goal of the night when senior Danielle Ward had a breakaway on the power play. She made her way to Gallagher and took a high shot glove side, but the netminder batted the puck away. Soon after, Huneke received a feed from junior Brittany Dougherty in front of a seemingly wide open net. Gallagher suddenly slid over from her right to made a solid save and keep the game at 0-0.

Less than seven minutes into the third period, Dougherty stole the puck at the blue line during a Union power play. She raced down the ice and fed sophomore Brianne Kilgour from the left side of the net. Kilgour shot the puck past Gallagher into the right corner of the net, putting Maine up 1-0.

Minutes later, Stefanie Thomson received a pass from senior Lauren Cromartie and crossed into Maine's zone as the rest of the Dutchwomen were mid-line change. The sophomore battled through three Maine defensemen to take a shot from the top of the slot. As Thomson turned to head to the bench, Ott's glove reached up and deflected the puck behind her into the net. The score was tied 1-1 before the line change could be completed.

With regulation coming to an end, Gallagher faced a tough shot by senior Dominique Goutsis. The Dutchwomen regained possession as Hoffman took the puck on a breakaway. The senior made her way around Maine's defense and deked, taking a shot with seconds to go. The puck slid inches past the post as Hoffman was taken down, and the score remained 1-1.

With Maine claiming the win in overtime, Ott earned her seventh win of the season with 19 saves. Gallagher was excellent in the defeat, stopping 40 out of 42 shots.

Union produced a massive defensive effort, working hard along the boards and constantly poke checking throughout the match. The Dutchwomen collectively had 15 blocked shots, four coming from senior Chelsey Heinhuis and three from senior Dania Simmonds.