The following is a release from the University of Maine:


December 1, 2002
WOMEN COME FROM BEHIND TO GAIN TIE WITH YALE


The University of Maine women's hockey team gained its second tie in as many
days as it finished in a 3-3 deadlock with Yale University this afternoon in
New Haven, Conn. The Black Bears (3-5-2) overcame one-goal deficits twice in
the third period to tie the Bulldogs (2-8-1).

The Black Bears took off on the right foot as Rebecca Culver (Topsham,
Maine) netted her third goal of the season just 21 seconds into the game.
Assisting on Culver's goal were Cindy Biron (Lewiston, Maine) and Andrea
Steranko (Regina, Saskatchewan). Maine outshot Yale 11-8 in the opening
frame.

Maine held a 1-0 lead until late in the second period when penalties on
Maine's Naomi Smethurst (Hay River, Northwest Terr.) and Karen Droog
(Listowel, Ontario) gave Yale consecutive power play opportunities. Yale's
Erin Duggan took full advantage of both opportunities as she scored two
power play goals less than four minutes apart to put the Bulldogs up 2-1.
After being outshot in the first period, the Bulldogs put 12 shots on goal
to Maine's five in the second frame.

Maine evened the score at two apiece when Meagan Aarts (Watford, Ontario)
converted Maine's only power play opportunity of the game into her third
goal of the season at 3:45 of the third period. Morgan Janusc (Dundas,
Ontario) assisted on the goal to notch her first career point. Yale came
right back as Nicole Symington put the Bulldogs back up by a goal less than
two minutes later. But Maine wasn't finished, as Steranko netted her first
goal of the season with 2:44 remaining in the period to send the game to
overtime.

The teams played five scoreless minutes of OT to finish in the 3-3 tie.

Maine finished with 33 shots on goal as Yale goaltender Nicolette Franck
made 30 saves on the day. Maine goaltender Dawn Froats (Moose Jaw,
Saskatchewan) stopped 29 of the 32 shots she faced as her record moved to
2-1-1 on the season.

The Black Bear women will be back in action Saturday, December 7 as they
travel to Niagara N.Y. to take on the Niagara Purple Eagles for one game
starting at 3:00 p.m.