Fighting to redeem themselves the following afternoon, the Rensselaer women’s hockey team pulled off a 2-2 tie but let Maine escape from an overtime dominated by RPI. The women are now 9-1-2 after a tough weekend in Orono, Maine.

With the loss comes great disappointment but no regrets. “It was upsetting,” said Ashley Mayr of the first Division I winning streak. “I don’t know how to explain it, but everything just wasn’t working.”

Her thoughts are echoed by fellow freshman Jamie Jacquard-Sowa: “It just didn’t click.”

An excessive number of penalties didn’t help the team either. “It was hard to get a flow going with so many penalties,” said Jacquard-Sowa of the weekend. It seemed as if there were players in the box for the entire game. “The refs were calling everything; some were questionable but at least they were calling the game evenly.”

Friday’s game started off with an early goal by Maine’s captain just over three minutes into the game. By the end of the first period, RPI was down 2-0, and although the team has had many comeback wins this season, this was not their day.

Even in the second period with a two-man advantage, the women were not able to score. Finally, during the last minute of play during the second period, sophomore Brooke Thompson scored off a pass by freshman Nicole McDonald. This cut the Maine lead in half and it appeared that the game would be close.

The Black Bears responded without delay, scoring on a power play before the period ended to bring the score to 3-1. Continuing their domination into the third period, Maine would score again against senior Rosina Schiff to carry the team to a 4-1 victory over the previously undefeated Engineers.

“We looked tired out there,” commented Mayr, “I think we really needed the break. We’re disappointed.”

The very next day, the teams met again; this time, the Engineers skated with a chip on their shoulder, playing to let the Black Bears know they were not to be taken lightly. Jacquard-Sowa felt that “we were definitely more motivated” for the next game.

Not surprisingly, RPI struggled early in the game, as they have the entire season. Just five minutes into regulation, a breakaway by Maine’s leading scorer got past goalie Ashley Mayr. Maine then scored five minutes into the second period off another unassisted shot, this time on a power play.

By the end of the second period, RPI would tie up the game. Hoping to end Maine’s undefeated home win-streak since the Black Bears halted the Engineers’ winning ways the day before, sophomore Ellen McNamara assisted junior captain Sarah Daniel to cut Maine’s lead in half.

Freshmen Melissa Boik and Emily Donowick connected to tie it up. As the game went into overtime, the Rensselaer women were dominating the game; they weren’t, however, able to pull off a win. “We couldn’t capitalize on some of our chances,” said Jacquard-Sowa.

“In overtime we dominated, we had so many chances but just couldn’t get it in,” added Mayr. “We hit the post, shot right at the goalie, and she was making the saves but we really didn’t test her.”