ORONO – The University of Maine women’s hockey team pulled out all the stops in the third period of their game against Harvard University Sunday afternoon.

They produced 18 of their 28 shots on goal while holding Harvard to just three.

But sophomore left wing Meagan Aarts’ 11th and 12th goals of the season were not enough as Harvard used a first-period goal by Jamie Hagerman; second-period power play goals by Tracy Catlin and freshman sensation Nicole Correiro and clutch goaltending by sophomore Jessica Ruddock to hold off Maine 3-2.

Harvard is now 8-6-1 while Maine fell to 7-8-1. Maine is 0-7 lifetime vs. Harvard.

“If we had five more minutes, it would have helped out a lot,” said Maine sophomore defenseman Emily Stevens. “But if we had scored off the chances we had early in the game, we would have had a better chance to win.”

Moments after junior defenseman Hagerman skated to the middle of the slot, took a Kalen Ingram pass and snapped a low 20-footer past Maine goalie Lara Smart, Ruddock got a piece of her glove on Tracy Caridade’s 10-foot wrister off a 2-on-0 resulting from a turnover and then got her pad on Cheryl White’s breakaway.

“That was just a little giveaway, it happened really quickly and I was able to react in time [on the first one],” said Ruddock. “On the breakaway, she made a move to the right, I moved over with her and got my right pad on it.”

The Harvard power play scored for the fourth and fifth times in its last 10 chances to build the lead to 3-0.

Catlin finished off a beautiful passing play involving two cross-ice passes when she one-timed Ingram’s pass behind a helpless Smart.

Corriero found the net for the 18th time and for the seventh straight game following her own dazzling stickhandling exhibition in the low slot.

“Kalen [Ingram] and Tracy [Catlin] did a good job creating havoc and tying up the front of the net. They did all the work. I went around wide, they opened a lane for me and I took the lane,” said Correiro, who went around Smart and tucked it between her left skate and the post.

“In that kind of situation, you don’t want to shoot too soon. I let the goalie make the first move and react to that,” added Correiro.

Stevens said, “She has the best hands in the league.”

Aarts cut the lead to 3-1 6:09 into the third period.

“Naomi [Smethurst] took a shot [from the point] that hit Jarin [Sjogren], hit my leg and went in,” said Aarts.

Maine coach Rick Filighera pulled Smart in favor of an extra attacker with 1:43 left and it paid off when Aarts slid the rebound of a Sjogren shot behind Ruddock with 1:25 remaining.

Aarts nearly tied it with 40 seconds left when she had two whacks at a Kelly Nelson rebound from the top of the crease only to see Ruddock make the saves.

“I thought it was going through her five-hole. I swear it was right by the goal line,” said Aarts.

Harvard coach Katey Stone said, “It got interesting down the stretch but that often happens when you have a young group of kids. Fortunately, they found a way to get it done and that’s what’s important.”

Ingram assisted on all three Harvard goals.

Smart finished with 17 saves.

CRIMSON 3, BLACK BEARS 2

Harvard (8-6-1) 1 2 0 ? 3

Maine (7-8-1) 0 0 2 ? 2

First period ? 1. Harvard, Hagerman 3 (Ingram,), 2:28; 2. Harvard, Catlin 7 (Corriero, Ingram), 4:07 (pp); Penalties: Maine, Stevens, holding, 14:17.

Second period ? 3. Harvard, Corriero 18 (Catlin, Ingram), 11:42 (pp). Penalties: Maine, Stevens, tripping, 3:13; Harvard, Bazzocchi, tripping, 7:56; Maine, Desmet, high sticking, 8:15; Maine, Smethurst, 11:17; Harvard, Ingram, high sticking, 16:47; Maine, Sjogren, cross checking, 17:46.

Third period ? 4. Maine, Aarts 11 (Smethurst, Droog), 6:09; 5. Maine, Aarts 12 (Sjogren, Nelson), 18:35. Penalties: Harvard, Corriero, high sticking, 8:20.

Shots on goal: Harvard 7-10-3?20; Maine 6-4-18?28

Goaltenders: Harvard, Ruddock (28 shots-26 saves), Maine, Smart (20-17)

Power-play opportunities: Harvard 2-5; Maine 0 of 3

High-percentage scoring chances: Harvard 8-10-5?23; Maine 6-5-11?22

Attendance: 202