Satisfactory start puts Maine in new position to dream of postseason
By Al Daniel
Jennie Gallo, recruited by the University of Maine during the final days of the program’s second-to-last coaching administration (Lauren Steblen), wanted a revolution for her senior year. She wanted something to spawn at least a morsel of valid excitement for a team that has won no more than six games per year and repeatedly finished in the Hockey East basement since her arrival.
So far, she is doing her part, her productivity setting her on an easy pace for a career year. Gallo previously set her personal bar as a sophomore, when she mustered 12 goals and 23 points. And now with more than two-thirds of a 34-game schedule still to come in her final campaign, she has already scraped out eight goals and 11 points.
“It’s my teammates,” she says in standard team-first deference of credit. “They set me up, so it’s pretty encouraging to have such supportive teammates. We’re together on everything, and we’re coming a long way, so we’re hoping to make some good accomplishments this year.”
To her point, under the guidance of first-year head coach Maria Lewis, Gallo is hardly the lone Black Bear making rapid progress. Sophomore forward Brittany Dougherty tops the Maine scoring chart with a 7-7-14 transcript through 10 games after stamping a mere 3-6-9 in 28 games as a rookie. Junior Myriam Croussette is riding a point-per-game median at 4-6-10, a pace that could see her eclipsing the 28 points she accumulated over her first two seasons.
Junior defender Ashley Norum already has a career year to her credit with a goal and seven helpers. Likewise, classmate Dominique Goustis has followed through on four freshman and five sophomore points with seven and counting this year.
And just to certify the legitimacy of this development, none of the aforementioned Black Bears have scored any fewer than three points in the eight games since their traditional season opening obliteration of Sacred Heart.
Oh, yeah, and with a 4-6-0 record in the works, Maine need only collect three more Ws to exceed its win totals from each of Gallo and Co.’s first three seasons. But at this rate, a seven-victory campaign will hardly suffice for them.
Assistant captain Jordan Colliton is not about to ignore what is behind the nascent turnaround –namely the advent of Lewis and her staff.
“Because we’ve had such bad seasons, haven’t been in the playoffs for four years, Coach Lewis came in and she basically said she believes in us,” Colliton said. “And every practice, she has an expectation, and once we meet that expectation she brings it higher and higher and higher. That’s what benefits us.
“And we are a playoff team. That’s our goal.”
Over the first weekend of November, Maine was the final team to start interacting with fellow Hockey Easterners after splitting its first eight interleague games. Their first impression was statistically barren with a pair of 3-1 road losses to the surprisingly floundering Connecticut and a potent Providence team.
That notwithstanding, Lewis is patient enough to stay on double-runners, at least for the moment. Unlike the loftier ambitions enviously shared by the better part of the New England Eight, sitting in sixth place come February 19 and scheduling an extra road trip for the next week will make the year for her pupils.
“I think that we’re going to keep getting better,” said Lewis. “And obviously the league as a whole is going to keep getting better as the season progresses. I don’t think we’re far behind. I think we have a chance at the playoffs.”
Of the start overall, she said, “To be honest, it’s actually a little better than I expected. I think the girls are believing in themselves, they’re learning how to compete and try to do that for 60 minutes a game and we’re getting a little better every day.”
To be sure, the wrinkles are as detectable as the plus points. Veteran players like Colliton, with one assist to her credit thus far, and Dawn Sullivan, with one goal and five points, as well as a smattering of freshman are still waiting to thaw out and start complementing those who are already producing.
The defense, backed by the valiant Brittany Ott in goal, could still stand to whittle a bit off of its average of 2.7 goals-against per game.
While the Bears have yet to lose when scoring first or when leading at any intermission, they are conversely 0-6-0 when authorizing the first goal, 0-4-0 when trailing after 20 minutes, and 0-6-0 when losing after the second period.
And despite an oft-reliable penalty kill, Maine has a tendency to strain itself, averaging a league-high 14 penalty minutes per game. A little more discipline, rather than more intensive PK drilling, is likely the key to building upon an 87.7 percent success rate.
On the other hand, the power play has converted at least once in nine out of 10 games, including three in a pair of losses to Mercyhurst in the second week of October and last Sunday’s 3-1 shortcoming at Providence. In all, the Black Bears have collected 14 5-on-4 strikes from seven different players. In the six games post-Sacred Heart, they have connected on nine out of 49 opportunities for an 18.4 conversion rate.
File that as another scoring breakthrough waiting to happen in Orono. In the three years of Dan Lichterman’s coaching tenure, Maine mustered merely 11 (2007-08), 24 (2008-09), and 21 (2009-10) conversions over 30-plus games.
“There’s no doubt that’s encouraging to see,” said Lewis. “I think our units have pretty good chemistry, they believe in themselves, and know they can get it done.”
If not much needs to change in the way of special teams, then a little more even strength efficiency is certainly in order. The Black Bears, who have yet to be shut out this season, have gone through their last three games –all 3-1 drawbacks- without a single 5-on-5 goal.
As for Lewis’ “60 minutes a game” goal –a universal essential in this game for those just pursuing playoff passports and those chasing NCAA trophies- the first 20 minutes could use the most sprucing up. In its last eight games, Maine has been outscored an aggregate 10-3 in the opening frame, suggesting the need to handle pep talk-induced poise with extra care before going out for player introductions.
But under Lewis, Gallo insists, the progress should all come in due time.
“This style of coaching is benefitting us a lot,” Gallo said. “Nothing against Dan, he was great overall. It’s just that this style fits our team and our atmosphere more.
“The positive atmosphere (Lewis) brings, it makes us believe in ourselves, believe in the program, believe in everything, and that just carries on over to the games.
“So if we just take one step at a time with everything we do, we’re going to get there. It’s pretty exciting to be in this position.”
No comments:
Post a Comment