PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island — Sophomore Allyson Park swept home her own rebound with 8:33 remaining to help the Providence College Friars beat the University of Maine Black Bears 1-0 in a mutual field hockey opener at the Lennon Family Field on Friday.
The Friars avenged a 7-1 thrashing suffered in last year’s season-opener in Orono as Providence senior Megan Guilbert made four saves in posting her fourth career shutout
No. 24 UMaine had won six of the last seven meetings with the Friars, who are coached by former UMaine assistant Diane Madl.
UMaine’s Samanta Wagg’s shot hit the post off an Emily Hindle penalty corner 15:04 into the contest.
Providence had a 12-8 edge in shot attempts and a 9-4 advantage in shots on goal. PC had six penalty corners to UMaine’s five.
UMaine goalie Emma Cochran finished with eight saves including four off three successive penalty corners during a span of 1:50 in the second half.
UMaine was shut out just once last season, 2-0 by Albany, as the Black Bears were the nation’s 10th-highest scoring team, averaging 3.25 goals per game. They returned six of their top seven scorers.
UMaine will play its home opener against Quinnipiac University (Conn.) on Sunday at noon.