Image Credit: GoNU
by Alex Bensley
The Northeastern Huskies pulled away from the Maine Black Bears on Friday afternoon, 3-0, in a rematch of last year’s Women’s Hockey East Semifinal in which the Huskies prevailed.
The Black Bears (4-1-0) looked to come into Matthews Arena with a dominant resume thus far this season, not to mention a sour taste in their mouths after last year’s bitter defeat. Outscoring opponents 21-1 and average 5.25 goals a game—albeit against mediocre competition—Maine had the firepower to come into Matthews and steal a Friday matinee game.
But the Huskies (3-1-1) would not be denied on their home ice. Sophomore Brooke Hobson broke the scoring at the tail end of the first period to give Northeastern a 1-0 lead heading into the break, a lead the Huskies never gave up. Maine came out strong in the second period and had their chances—but whenever the momentum swung in favor of the Black Bears, the pendulum swung right back in favor of the Huskies.
Senior Tori Sullivan scored in the second period to give Northeastern a 2-0 lead, and senior Kasidy Anderson sealed the game midway through the third to make it 3-0.
Sophomore goalie Aerin Frankel set aside 25 shots in a dominant performance. Her defenseman aided her cause, always getting back in transition.
A strong performance against a sound Maine team gives the Huskies momentum going forward into a Sunday afternoon game at UNH.