Canuel leads Black Bears to victory UMaine thumps Seawolves

ORONO – University of Maine sophomore midfielder Marie-Andree Canuel, the 2004 America East Rookie of the Year and a first team All-AE selection, has been having a relatively quiet season statistically.

But that all changed on Thursday.

Canuel, an 11-goal scorer a year ago, scored her third, fourth and fifth goals of the season and senior striker Erin Corey of Winslow chipped in with her fourth and fifth as the Black Bears humbled Stony Brook (N.Y.) 6-0 at Alumni Field.

“I had a lot of room today and since I had a [defensive] midfielder behind me, I was able to go up [on the attack],” said Canuel who opened the scoring 12:24 into the game and made it 3-0 later in the half after Corey had scored her first. Canuel polished off her hat trick 1:07 into the second half.

Laura Harper came off the bench to set up Corey’s first goal and complete the first-half scoring with her third goal of the season. Corey added her second later in the second half.

“We worked on our finishing all week in practice and it showed in the game,” said Harper.

Maine was in complete control, generating 31 shots at goal to Stony Brook’s eight, while improving its record to 7-4-1 overall, 2-0-1 in America East. Stony Brook fell to 3-10-1 and 0-4, respectively.

“We played really well today,” said senior striker Heather Hathorn.

Corey said the Maine backs did an exceptional job supporting the attack.

“We took advantage of their weaknesses,” said Corey.

Canuel started the scoring by converting the rebound of a shot by Corey, who was set up nicely by Hathorn only to have Seawolves goalie Cindy Bennett smother the shot.

“I had to shoot it to [my] right because there was a defender in front of me,” said Canuel.

Harper came on 26:15 left in the half and 8:19 later, she muscled past one defender and slotted the ball past another defender to Corey, who tucked a 12-yarder inside the near post to Bennett’s left.

“Laura did all the hard work,” said Corey.

Canuel made it 3-0 by cashing in on the rebound of a 40-yard drive by Brittany Saisselin that deflected to her off the crossbar. Her 15-yarder cleanly beat Bennett.

Harper’s goal was the by-product of a nice run and pass by Natalie Berry. Berry cut the ball back to the top of the penalty area to Harper.

“I was trying to go far post but it hit one of their defenders and went near post,” said Harper.

Canuel made it 5-0 with a well-placed header off a Hathorn cross and Corey closed things out by slicing into the penalty area and converting a Berry pass from 10 yards out.

“Maine’s a good team. They played very well. They scored some early goals when we made some mistakes in defending and, after that, we had a hard time playing the game,” said Seawolves coach Sue Ryan.

Jasmine Phillips made two saves for Maine in posting her fifth shutout of the year. Bennett finished with six stops.