Maine Secures Draw Against Providence in Thrilling Match
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Under the lights at Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium, Maine walked away with something it rarely gets against Providence: a result.
A 1-1 draw may not leap off the page, but for the Black Bears it carried weight. It was their first positive outcome against a Big East opponent since 2007, and it came after 90 minutes of stubborn defending, one moment of quality, and a nervy finish.
Meadows strikes on the counter
The breakthrough came right as the first half seemed destined to drift into the break scoreless.
With the clock ticking under a minute, Victoria Dungey took charge at midfield. She spun through two Friars defenders and slipped a perfectly weighted ball straight up the middle. Suddenly, the field opened.
Isabella Meadows burst onto it, outpacing the back line and driving into the box. One touch to settle, another to guide it inside the right post. Thirty-seven seconds left in the half, and Maine led 1-0.
For Meadows, it was her second goal of the season. For Dungey, in her 60th career game, it was assist number two on the year and a reminder of her experience in big moments.
Providence push pays off
The second half belonged more to Providence. The Friars pressed higher, swung in crosses, and steadily tilted the field. They finished with a 6-4 edge in shots on goal and a 2-1 advantage in corner kicks, forcing Maine deeper and deeper.
Elena Barenberg stood up to most of it. The Maine goalkeeper turned away five efforts, helping protect a lead that felt increasingly fragile as the minutes bled away.
The pressure finally told in the closing stages. With less than 10 minutes to play, Providence found the equalizer. The initial call flagged the play for offsides, briefly offering Maine a lifeline, but the decision was overturned and the goal stood. Just like that, the game was level at 1-1.
Milestones in a grind
Even as the Friars chased a winner, Maine’s back line held firm enough to see out the draw. Veterans anchored that resistance.
Dungey and fellow senior presence Luise Reinwald both marked their 60th career appearances. At the back, Meghan Bernetti made her 50th career start and, along with Olivia Grisdale, played all 90 minutes. Their durability mattered on a night when Maine had to absorb long spells without the ball.
The result nudged Maine to 2-3-2 on the season and moved Providence to 2-0-6. In the all-time series, the Black Bears still trail badly at 2-11-1, but this was a rare night when they left Providence with something to build on.
Next up, that foundation gets tested quickly. Maine heads to Holy Cross for a 2 p.m. kickoff on Sunday, Sept. 13, looking to turn a hard-earned point into real momentum.
