2008 Woodie Awards
Three late goals help Terriers close out UMaine for second straight year
Matt Williams
Issue date: 11/6/06 Section: Maine Sports
Despite an all-around tenacious effort, the University of Maine field hockey team came up short in their bid to unseat host Boston University in the America East championship game. The Terriers found the back of the cage three times in the game's final 25 minutes to break a 1-1 tie and end the Black Bears season for the second straight year, 4-1.
"We had momentum for a short while, but BU scored a couple of minutes after our goal and then got a few more," said UMaine coach Andrea Thebarge.
Joanna Fernandes knotted the game at 48:40 after the Black Bears had failed to generate a shot in the first half.
"We made some changes offensively at halftime and we had an attack going," Thebarge said.
The Terriers All-Conference forward Sarah Shute beat UMaine goalie Rebecca Giroux just three minutes later to notch the game winner. BU added insurance goals from Hadley Adams at 54:55 and Amy Seaman at 68:02.
The loss ends Thebarge's first campaign as head coach at 8-11, including a 3-2 conference mark. UMaine lost seven straight games in the middle of the season, but pulled together to advance to the championship game for the fourth time in the last five seasons. A grueling schedule included games against national powers Providence, Indiana, and No. 6 Boston College.
"We worked hard through a very tough stretch," Thebarge said. "Those games prepared us for the end of the season and we came back and fought through it."
The Black Bears advanced to the title game with a 1-0 overtime win over regular season co-champion Albany on Friday. All-conference midfielder Amy Zdrojesky won it for UMaine 9:05 into the extra session, while Giroux was outstanding between the posts making six saves.
The victory over the Great Danes avenged a 3-0 defeat at Albany's hands earlier in the season.
"Friday was a huge win for us," Thebarge said. "We had a horrible game the first time, but we came out ready to play and took their best players out of the game. That was the difference."
Giroux and Zdrojesky were named to the All-Tournament team for the efforts, as was UMaine's Katie Flaherty. BU's Pam Spuehler was named the tournament's most outstanding player.
The Terriers are now 14-6 on the year and earn America East's automatic trip to the NCAA tournament, which will have its field announced on Tuesday.
"We had momentum for a short while, but BU scored a couple of minutes after our goal and then got a few more," said UMaine coach Andrea Thebarge.
Joanna Fernandes knotted the game at 48:40 after the Black Bears had failed to generate a shot in the first half.
"We made some changes offensively at halftime and we had an attack going," Thebarge said.
The Terriers All-Conference forward Sarah Shute beat UMaine goalie Rebecca Giroux just three minutes later to notch the game winner. BU added insurance goals from Hadley Adams at 54:55 and Amy Seaman at 68:02.
The loss ends Thebarge's first campaign as head coach at 8-11, including a 3-2 conference mark. UMaine lost seven straight games in the middle of the season, but pulled together to advance to the championship game for the fourth time in the last five seasons. A grueling schedule included games against national powers Providence, Indiana, and No. 6 Boston College.
"We worked hard through a very tough stretch," Thebarge said. "Those games prepared us for the end of the season and we came back and fought through it."
The Black Bears advanced to the title game with a 1-0 overtime win over regular season co-champion Albany on Friday. All-conference midfielder Amy Zdrojesky won it for UMaine 9:05 into the extra session, while Giroux was outstanding between the posts making six saves.
The victory over the Great Danes avenged a 3-0 defeat at Albany's hands earlier in the season.
"Friday was a huge win for us," Thebarge said. "We had a horrible game the first time, but we came out ready to play and took their best players out of the game. That was the difference."
Giroux and Zdrojesky were named to the All-Tournament team for the efforts, as was UMaine's Katie Flaherty. BU's Pam Spuehler was named the tournament's most outstanding player.
The Terriers are now 14-6 on the year and earn America East's automatic trip to the NCAA tournament, which will have its field announced on Tuesday.
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