LOWELL, Massachusetts — Junior Danielle Aviani’s goal with 5:54 remaining in the first overtime period capped a dramatic rally that supplied the Black Bears with a 4-3 America East field hockey victory over UMass Lowell.
Aviani scored off a breakaway as she raced into the circle and flipped the ball over Kelsey Federico for her seventh goal of the season for the Black Bears (10-2, 1-0 AE).
Maine trailed 3-1 at halftime but rallied to tie it on goals 5:31 apart by Casey Crowley and Katie Bingle. Samantha Gomes assisted on Crowley’s goal and Libby Riedl earned an assist on Bingle’s tying goal with 10:43 remaining in regulation.
Christa Doiron opened the scoring for the River Hawks (5-5, 0-2 AE) just 2:38 into the game.
Jenna Freitas broke the tie off a Sophie Watt assist and Georgia Cowderoy expanded the River Hawk lead with just 18 seconds left in the first half.
Maine’s Emma Cochran and Emily Corbett combined for seven saves while Federico wound up with four stops.
Women’s Hockey
Maine 4, New Hampshire 0
At Durham, New Hampshire, seniors Audra Richards and Meghann Treacy guided the Black Bears to their season-opening victory as Richards had a hat trick and Treacy made 29 saves in registering her fifth career shutout.
Brooke Stacey had a goal and an assist with Mikayla Rogers and Anna Wright notching an assist apiece.
Freshman Hilary Cashin made 17 saves on 20 shots for UNH.
Football
Florida QB may sit against Ole Miss
Florida starting quarterback Will Grier is ill and may not play in Saturday’s game against No. 3 Mississippi, multiple media outlets reported.
Whether Grier plays or starts will be a game-time decision.
A flu bug has circulated through the Gators’ roster, and it’s unclear whether Grier is suffering from that illness.
If Grier can’t play, Treon Harris is expected to start for No. 25 Florida. Harris did not play in last week’s victory over Tennessee because he was serving a one-game suspension.
Before Grier’s health became an issue, head coach Jim McElwain had planned to start Grier and use Harris if needed to run the option.
Grier rotated with Harris the first two games, but Grier played the entire games against Kentucky and Tennessee.
Grier has completed 62.6 percent of his passes with six touchdowns and three interceptions.