Final Score: Vermont 3, Maine 3
ORONO, Maine – Bridget Baker scored twice including the game-tying goal with 77 seconds left in regulation as Vermont rallied from a two-goal third period deficit to tie Maine 3-3 at Alfond Arena in Hockey East action Saturday afternoon.
 
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Box Score

The Black Bears opened the scoring 5:27 into the first period on a great individual play from Maine's Cassidy Herman. Herman made a move at the blue line and skated into the slot before firing a shot past Vermont's Madison Litchfield for her third goal of the season. Jillian Langtry and Audra Richards assisted on the even strength tally. It was the first time in four games Vermont's opponent scored first.
 
Maine struck again as Brooke Stacey scored her eighth goal of the season with 4:38 left in the opening frame. In transition Stacey took a feed from Langtry and fired a well-placed wrist shot past Litchfield. Stacey's even strength goal was her fifth in Hockey East play this season.
 
Vermont cut the deficit in half 4:49 into the second period. Baker skated into the Maine zone on a two-on-one rush after a Black Bears turnover in the neutral zone. The Maine defender took away the pass and Baker roofed a shot past Meghann Treacy for her fourth goal of the season.
 
Seconds after giving up the Vermont goal Treacy was faced with a breakaway opportunity. Mackenzie MacNeil skated in alone and made a backhand move that was padded aside by Treacy to keep it 2-1. On the same shift the Catamounts took a penalty to give Maine its first power play of the day.
 
The Black Bears converted late on their power play opportunity to regain a two-goal advantage. On the cycle Morgan Sakundiak received the puck behind the net from Richards, she quickly cut to the net and fired a backhand just below the crossbar to pick up her fourth goal of the year. Mikayla Rogers was credited with the secondary assist on the goal which came at the 7:15 mark of the second period.
 
With 6:49 left in the third period Daria O'Neill picked the perfect time for her first career goal. With the Catamounts shorthanded O'Neill took a feed at the point from Victoria Andreakos and fired a wrist shot through traffic and over Treacy's shoulder to pull Vermont within one. Dayna Colang picked up her team-leading 16^th point of the season with the secondary assist on Vermont's first shorthanded goal of the season.
 
With 1:17 left in regulation Baker struck again to tie the game at three apiece. On the forecheck Baker stripped a Maine defender at the blue line and skated into the slot before firing a wrist shot just under Treacy's blocker to force overtime.
 
In the overtime period Vermont pushed for the win but Treacy made five saves to keep the Catamounts off the board. In the dying seconds of the extra period Litchfield stopped Richards on a breakaway as both teams skated off with a valuable point in the standings.
 
"I'm very proud of our team for the resilience they showed today," said head coach Jim Plumer. "Our entire team fought to the end and it was great to see Bridget Baker score two clutch goals and Daria O'Neill her first career goal to get the third period comeback started. It was one of our better 60 minute efforts of the season."
 
The Catamounts return to action tomorrow afternoon as they close out their season-series with Maine at 2 p.m. Fans can watch a free live stream of the contest at GoBlackBears.com.