Bears score on final tick, tie Huskies

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Maine pulled the goaltender and Jamie Hill scored on an assist from Meagan Arts with one second remaining in the third period Friday night, helping the Black Bears forge a 3-3 women’s hockey tie against Connecticut.

Aarts also scored an unassisted second-period goal for the Bears, who are 15-14-4 overall, 7-10-3 in league play. Emily Stevens converted assists by Tristan Desmet and Naomi Smethurst for UMaine’s other goal.

Lara Smart racked up 33 saves for the Bears.

Goals by Tiffany Owens and Shannon Connolly had staked UConn (11-19-3, 7-11-2) to a 2-1 lead, then Kimberly Berry put the hosts ahead early in the third.

Shannon Murphy made 24 saves for the Huskies.

Softball

UMaine 1-2 on opening day

At Virginia Beach, Va., the University of Maine softball team opened its 2002 schedule with a win and two losses during a busy three-game day.

UMaine dropped its opener 2-0 to East Carolina, rebounded for a 6-5 win over George Mason, then lost a 4-0 decision to Seton Hall in the nightcap.

In the first game, Candy Jaegge pitched a three-hitter, but took the loss after allowing two unearned runs. She struck out one.

Leigh Ann Hlywak, Karen Sherwood, Rachel Bain and Erica Sobel all singled for the Black Bears. Laurie Davidson earned the complete-game shutout for East Carolina.

In Game 2, the Bears collected 11 hits in beating George Mason.

Hlywak stroked a three-run home run and single for UMaine, while Sobel doubled and singled. Aleisha Rautenberg added two singles behind freshman Jenna Merchant spread out five hits, who surrendered a seventh-inning grand slam to Kim Braxton.

In the nightcap, Megan Meyer pitched a four-hit shutout for Seton Hall, which scored two runs each in the second and third innings.

Hlywak, Jessica Brady, Melissa Mather and Katie Churchill singled for the Bears.

(First Game)

Maine (0-1) 000 000 0 – 0 4 2

East Carolina (8-5) 010 010 x – 2 3 0

Jaegge and Bain; Davidson and Chlebnikow

(Second Game)

Maine (1-1) 100 023 0 – 6 11 1

George Mason 000 000 5 – 5 5 0

Merchant and Tibbetts; Leveque and Fox

(Third Game)

Maine (1-2) 000 000 0 – 0 4 2

Seton Hall (4-2) 022 000 x – 4 5 0

Merchant and Bain; Meyer and Taylor