Maine Women's Soccer Earns Draw Against Unbeaten Providence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Maine walked out of Chapey Field with more than a draw. It left with a statement.

The University of Maine women’s soccer team earned a 1-1 tie against unbeaten Providence College on Thursday night at Anderson Stadium, grinding through long stretches without the ball and surviving a late twist from the officials.

Meadows strikes on the counter

For most of the first half, Maine absorbed pressure. Then, with the clock bleeding out, the Black Bears pounced.

In the final minute before halftime, Victoria Dungey spun away from two defenders near midfield and split Providence’s back line with a perfectly weighted ball up the middle. Isabella Meadows saw the gap and went. She outran the Friars’ defense, carried the pass into the box and slid her finish inside the right post with 37 seconds left in the half.

One move in midfield. One run. One ruthless touch. Maine took a 1-0 lead into the break.

Friars push back, VAR-style drama without the screens

Providence responded after halftime the way an undefeated side should. The Friars tightened their grip on the ball and pushed Maine deeper, piling up chances and testing the Black Bears’ back line.

They finished the night with a 6-4 edge in shots on goal and a 2-1 advantage in corner kicks, with much of that pressure coming after the interval. Maine goalkeeper Elena Barenberg stood up to it, making five saves and repeatedly cutting out dangerous balls in the area.

The pressure finally told in the closing stages — with controversy attached.

With less than 10 minutes to play, Providence found the net, only to see the assistant referee’s flag go up for offsides. The celebration stalled. Then came the reversal. After a discussion, the officials overturned the call and awarded the goal, leveling the match at 1-1 and flipping the mood inside Anderson Stadium.

Maine steadied itself from there, saw out the final minutes, and protected the point.

Milestones and context

The draw barely dents the historical numbers, but it shifts the narrative. Maine is now 2-11-1 all-time against Providence, yet this result carried weight: it marked the Black Bears’ first positive result against a Big East opponent since a tie with St. John’s back in 2007.

Meadows’ first-half strike was her second goal of the season. Dungey’s incisive assist was her second of the year, coming on a night when she marked her 60th career game. Defender Luise Reinwald also hit the 60-game milestone, while captain Meghan Bernetti made her 50th career start.

Bernetti and Olivia Grisdale did the full shift, playing all 90 minutes as Maine dug in against a Providence side that now sits at 2-0-6 and still unbeaten on the year. The Black Bears move to 2-3-2, carrying a hard-earned point and a flicker of momentum.

Next up is a 2 p.m. trip to Holy Cross on Sunday, Sept. 13. The question now is simple: can Maine turn gritty nights like this into a season that finally breaks old patterns?