ORONO, Maine — Whenever you hear about a team splitting its goaltending responsibilities or having a two-goalie rotation, the natural assumption is that the goalies alternate games.
The University of Maine’s field hockey team has a two-goalie system, but it is somewhat unique.
Each goalie has played half of every game and that will be the case again Friday when the 17-3 Black Bears, the nation’s No. 19 team, face the University of California-Berkeley’s 9-9 Golden Bears in the America East quarterfinals. Game time is 4:30 p.m. at Albany, New York.
Emma Cochran and Emily Corbett are each redshirt sophomores. They each stand 5-foot-7 and are both Canadians. Cochran is from Surrey, British Columbia, and Corbett hails from Listowel, Ontario.
“It’s really nice having two talented people behind you to talk to you. You feel secure with them behind you,” said Maine senior center midfielder/back Nicole Sevey from Skowhegan, a first team All-America East selection. “They have different skill sets. Each one is unique and they use it to their advantage. They work off each other and they’re both great. It seems to work out.”
Corbett has played 711 minutes, 34 seconds, and Cochran has played 709:06. Corbett has a 1.18 goals-against average and a .765 save percentage to go with her 8-2 record, and Cochran has a 1.38 GAA, a .674 save percentage and a 9-1 mark.
Maine knows it will have a fresh goalie in the second half and one who has been able to watch the opponent and its tendencies in the first half.
“I really like [splitting games],” said Cochran. “It’s nice to have a co-goalie. We work off each other in practice and in games. We both give each other good feedback. We always ask each other questions and pick situations where I’ll tell her what I think she should do [in that situation], and she’ll tell me what she thinks I should do.
“It’s nice to know if I get injured or something happens to me, Emily can go in [and] do well,” added Cochran.
“We set a school record for wins, so it has apparently been working out,” said Corbett. “I definitely think scouting us can be hard (because opponents have to prepare for two goalies instead of one).”
When it comes to their styles, Cochran said she is “more laid back and calm. Emily is more aggressive.”
“We both have different styles, but we both get the job done,” said Cochran.
They have both been satisfied with how they have played and feel they have learned a lot.
“I’ve focused on how my team works and how to work with my defenders,” said Corbett. “I learn more about them every time we play. It’s a lot of learning about how other people play which enables you to adjust your play.”
Cochran agreed.
“I’ve learned how to work with my team … knowing what kind of communication the players need and how they play,” said Cochran.
The Black Bears enter the game against California averaging 3.5 goals per game and with 11 players who have scored at least three goals led by All-AE second-teamer Sydney Veljacic (11 goals, 2 assists), Danielle Aviani (10 & 5) and Plymouth’s Marissa Shaw (9 & 2). Skowhegan’s Jessica Skillings (4 & 12) and AE All-Rookie team pick Libby Riedl (6 & 11) lead the team in assists.
California comes into the tourney on a five-game losing streak during which it has allowed 20 goals. The Golden Bears feature AE Rookie of the Year and leading freshman scorer Melina Moore (10 & 3) and All-AE first-teamers Marie Lanckneus (4 & 2) and Clara Goni (2 & 2). Moore and Lanckneus were All-Rookie team picks.