But after every loss a team learns a lesson, and the Bobcats learned they can always count on goalie Nicole Lewis.

Lewis recorded her fourth double-digit save of the season, stopping a career-high 20 shots. Lewis broke her career record which was set against Yale on Sept. 4, when she blocked 19 shots.

“It’s crazy,” Lewis said. “I never expected to get 20 saves ever in my life, and also to do it against a nationally ranked team and play like that is just crazy.”

Quinnipiac head coach Becca Main Kohli had confidence in Lewis to lead the defense in a game against a nationally ranked team.

“Nicole spearheaded it in the goal cage,” Main Kohli said.

The Bobcats came into the game with a defense first mentality, leaving a lot of pressure on Lewis and her defenders.

They rallied from a 2-1 deficit on Ashley Gradwell’s game-tying goal in the 68th minute, but Maine’s 23 shots on goal were too much to overcome.

But it was Lewis and the defense that kept them in the game.

“My defense did so much for me this game,” Lewis said. “They were pushing them outside and giving Maine off angled shots, making it easy for me really. They did their job the entire game.”

Lewis has now recorded 91 saves on the year.

“Nicole has had a really stellar year for us,” Main Kohli said “When goalies are in the zone, I don’t speak to them for two and a half months, so I haven’t spoken to Nicole, but today was the first day where I said listen, you did your job.”

Lewis made multiple diving plays, allowing three goals on 28 shot attempts. Even though most of the game was played on Quinnipiac’s defensive end, Lewis only allowed one goal on 16 corners taken by the Black Bears.

“It wasn’t luck or being in the right spot, it was she scouted correctly and did a fantastic job in bringing it to her physical presence today,” Main Kohli said.

The Bobcats will look to Lewis and the defense to continue their success when they travel to Lafayette on Sunday.