BOSTON — In a nail-biter of a matchup on Friday night, Northeastern battled their way to a gritty 2-1 victory over Maine.
The win marked the Huskies’ third straight, after last weekend’s sweep of UConn, but it wasn’t easy as Northeastern had to overcome a slow start, a determined opponent, and a physical game that tested their composure and resilience.
Junior forward Lily Shannon was the hero of the night, scoring both goals for Northeastern in one of her best performances of the season.
“[Shannon] just plays so hard, and she’s so fast, I don’t think people realize just how fast she is,” said assistant coach Lindsay Berman. “She burned five players on the ice to score that first goal, and she can shoot it… she’s got a lot of tools that are crucial for us in those moments.”
The first period began with the Black Bears pressing hard and putting the Huskies on their heels. Within the first six minutes, Maine outshot Northeastern 7-0, capitalizing on sloppy play and missed connections.
The momentum started to shift at 13:36 when Maine was called for interference. The Huskies took advantage of the power play, generating opportunities and, just two seconds after it ended, Shannon delivered a low, precise shot that zipped to the bottom left corner of the net, giving Northeastern a 1-0 lead.
But the celebration didn’t last long. A hooking penalty on graduate student Jaden Bogden at 5:37 handed Maine a chance to respond, and they didn’t waste it. Just moments after their power play expired, sophomore Lily Fetch buried a shot to tie the game at 1-1 with 3:33 remaining in the period.
Maine continued to push through the remainder of the frame, but freshman goalie Lisa Jönsson stood tall, making several key saves to keep the game even.
“[Jönsson] makes those big stops, especially when we need them,” Berman said. “It builds confidence for us… She is the reason we are walking away with the win today.”
The second period was defined by its physicality, with both teams racking up penalties as tensions flared. The aggressive play began early when Maine’s Ava Stevenson was sent to the box for a delay of game, setting off a chain reaction of penalties. Maine and Northeastern traded blows, both literally and figuratively, with hits piling up and eight total penalties called in the period. With just 7.2 seconds left, Maine was assessed a tripping penalty, giving Northeastern a critical power play to start the third.
The Huskies entered the final period determined to capitalize, but their early man advantage didn’t yield a goal — the season-long power play woes continued on Friday.
Not long after Maine killed the penalty, however, Shannon struck again. Amid a scramble in front of the net, she poked home a gritty rebound, her second goal of the night. Maine challenged the goal, but after review, it stood, putting Northeastern up 2-1.
The Black Bears didn’t go quietly, ramping up the pressure in the game’s final minutes. Despite some inconsistent play and trouble stringing together clean passes, the Huskies’ defense held firm. Winning key faceoffs and creating just enough offensive momentum, Northeastern managed to fend off Maine’s late push to secure the win. Senior Skylar Irving played a crucial role in the team’s success by winning 72% of her faceoffs.
The game concluded with tensions boiling over, leading to a post-whistle scuffle and six penalties. Maine sophomore Sam Morrison was assessed two penalties—one for a hit after the whistle and another for a game misconduct. Northeastern graduate student Katie Davis received matching penalties for her involvement, while senior Jules Constantinople, stepping in to back her teammate, was handed a roughing penalty for her part in the altercation.
With the victory, the Huskies continue to build on their strong start to the season, but Friday’s game was a reminder that there’s always room for improvement — especially as the physical intensity ramps up heading deeper into the season.
“We’re going to see the same Maine team that we saw tonight,” Berman said. “They’re going to come out as hard as they did tonight on us, and we have to be ready for that.”
The two teams will meet again Saturday afternoon, with a 1:30 p.m. puck drop at Matthews Arena. Zeno Minotti, Armaan Vij, and Max Schwartzberg will have the call on WRBBSports+.