Women’s Ice Hockey:
The Lady Huskies bowed to nationally ranked Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 6-1 last Saturday, January 29. Junior Kari Rabaten (Brookhaven, NY) scored three goals for the Engineers, who improved to 16-3-0 on the season. Sophomore Caitlin Tassone (Woburn, MA) scored for the Huskies on a breakaway with just over three and-a-half minutes to play n the game. The goal was the first scored on Engineers’ senior goalie Julie Vallarelli all season. USM dropped to 3-13-2 overall on the season; it was their third straight loss to a nationally ranked opponent. USM sophomore netminder Justene Larnerd (Cherry Hill, NJ) had 21 saves on the night before being lifted, while classmate Jen Arno (Westford, MA) was credited with 12 saves.
Women’s Indoor Track & Field:
USM won its first ever Maine State Women’s Indoor Track & Field championship Friday night at the USM Field House in Gorham. Senior Kim Brewer (Bristol, VT) won for individual events to lead the Huskies to victory. USM defeated opponents Bowdoin College (second place, 155 points), Colby College, and Bates College who amassed 144 and 99 points, respectively. Sophomore Melissa Bellemore (Manchester, NH) was the only other USM individual champion, winning the pole vault with a height of 10-8. The Huskies also took first in the 4 x 200-meter relay with a time of 1:49.91. Senior Kristen Ingalls (Raymond, ME), Junior Lindsay Kuhn (South Burlington, VT), freshman Mindy Mondoux (Berwick, ME) and Pam Yomoah (Auburn, ME) combined to defeat their competitors in that event.
Men’s Ice Hockey:
The Huskies and Saint Anselm’s College battled it out into overtime Saturday night, with USM gaining the clinching goal just under two minutes into the frame at USM. Senior Jon Lounsbury scored the game-winner for the Huskies, poking in the rebound off a mis-handled puck by St. Anselm senior netminder Jim Merol (North Providence, RI). USM got off to a quick start, scoring the first two goals of the game. Freshman Mike Stevens (Dover, NH) and sophomore Brian Collins (Reading, MA) got the Huskies off to a 2-0 lead in the first period. St. Anselm’s came back in the second and third, getting two goals from senior Bostjan Kolaric (Ljubljana, Slovenia). The second came with just 1:15 remaining in the third period, to send it into the extra session. Rookie goalie Ryan Sullivan (Newton, MA) had 34 saves on the night for the Huskies, who improved to 11-8-2 on the season.