ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine field hockey team received first-half goals from graduate student back Alexandra Sacker, junior midfielder Olivia Geniti and graduate student back Poppy Lambert and received an exceptional 12-save performance from goalkeeper Rozarie Mrazova to beat Vermont 3-1 at the UMaine field hockey complex Friday.
UMaine is now 7-3 overall and 1-0 in America East. Vermont fell to 2-6 and 1-1. Sacker and Geniti scored 8:08 apart in the first quarter before Lambert extended the lead 1:20 into the second half. Sacker and Lambert scored off penalty corners.
Kent State transfer Sacker opened the scoring just 2:45 into the game.
Eloise Penty inserted the ball to Victoria Tinghitella and placed it for Sacker, who rifled a shot from the top of the circle through Vermont keeper Ila Gunner’s legs for her third goal of the season.
Sacker was denied a second goal off a corner later in the period when Gunner robbed her by fully extending her right leg to get her foot on the low drive.
But seconds later, Kate Richardson neatly maneuvered into the circle along the right hand side and slid a low pass across to Geniti who perfectly placed a low shot inside the post to Gunner’s left.
“I saw the space, Kate made a great cross and I hit back across to the far corner,” said Geniti.
It was the fifth goal for Geniti, who had just one career goal in 39 games entering the season.
Lambert made it 3-0 just 1:20 into the second quarter when Tinghitella again set the ball up off a Penty insertion and sizzled her shot past Gunner from the top of the circle.
It was her fourth and the 54th of her career, which leaves her just three shy of UMaine Sports Hall of Famer Kelly Newton’s school record of 57.
Mrazova made an excellent save off Sophia Drees with her blocker glove shortly afterwards to maintain the three-goal lead.
Meg Weyer scored her third goal of the season in the fourth period by directing a Drees pass into the cage from point-blank range off a corner, but Mrazova made several big saves, including a breakaway stop off UVM leading scorer Marie Dijkstra.
“I got lucky,” said Mrazova who rushed out and smothered her shot with her pads.
Lambert came up with a clutch defensive save in the second half off Dijkstra, who had cut around Mrazova and had an open cage staring at her.
Lambert deflected the shot away with her stick.
“That was exciting. That was an adrenaline rush,” chuckled Lambert.
Lambert felt the team had a “really good first half. We really worked on some great offensive skill during the week.”
She also felt the team had a strong defensive corner unit and said Mrazova had a “great game.
“She was coming up with saves right, left and center,” said Lambert. ”I was really impressed with her.”
Vermont coach Kate Pfeifer said it was a “tough first quarter for us. We dug ourselves a hole that was challenging to get out of. Maine did a great job playing against our penalty corner. And their goalie played well.”
She added that she was proud of her team’s fight in the second half.
Gunner made two saves in the first half, and Merle Vaandrager had two in the second half for UVM.
UVM had a 17-10 edge in shot attempts including 13-3 in the second half.
Vermont also had a 9-7 edge in penalty corners including a 6-3 advantage in the second half.
UMaine, winner of three straight, will travel to Fairfield (Connecticut) for a non-conference game on Sunday at noon.
By BDN – US
