Women’s Soccer:
USM junior forward Liz Brunton (Birch Harbor, ME) had a hat trick and an assist as the fourth-seeded Huskies took it to fifth-seeded Plymouth State University (PSU) 4-1 Tuesday afternoon in the first round of the Little East Conference (LEC) playoffs. The PSU Panthers were eliminated from the tournament, finishing the season with a record of 6-10-1 overall. Brunton put the Huskies on the board early and often, scoring twice unassisted. She also assisted on senior Amanda Valeriani’s (South Portland, ME) second half goal. Senior goalie Marcy Ansley (Hudson, MA) made three saves on the day for the Huskies, who advanced to the semifinals against top-seeded Keene State College.
The Lady Huskies scored two goals less than two minutes apart, and with under ten minutes to play in regulation to tie the LEC semifinal game against Keene State College at 2-2. The Owls proved too much to handle for the Huskies in overtime, as they went on to win the match on a goal by sophomore midfielder Courtney Gately (Canton, MA). The game played out scoreless in the first half, until the Owls netted two goals just ten minutes apart in the second. Junior forwards Liz Brunton (Birch Harbor, ME) and Eva Hanson (Warner, NH) scored goals for the Huskies to send the game into the extra session. Senior keeper Marcy Ansley had seven saves in the game for the Huskies, who concluded their season after this match with an overall record of 8-8-4.
Field Hockey:
USM finished it’s season Saturday, October 30th on a winning note, defeating Bridgewater State College (BSC) in an LEC game played at Hodgdon field in Gorham. Freshman Erika Kroon (Bryantville, MA) and junior Rachel Nimon (Green, ME) scored for the Huskies, who finished with a 4-16 overall record. BSC came back to tie the game at 1-1, but Nimon and Kroon answered quickly to put the Huskies ahead for good. Bridgewater State’s Chandra Wark (Swampscott, MA) scored two goals, but USM keeper Sadie Garnache-Poirier (Biddeford, ME) denied any chance they had to tie the game, sealing the victory for the Huskies. Bridgewater State ended it’s season with a 1-15 overall record.
Men’s Soccer:
USM and Eastern Connecticut University battled it out to a scoreless tie in regulation last Saturday, October 30th in an LEC match played at Thomas Nevers Field in Willimantic, CT. Unfortunately for the Huskies, junior Carl Segura (Amherst, MA) scored just 74 seconds into overtime play to lift the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut to a 2-1 victory, and a birth in the LEC playoffs. USM was eliminated from LEC playoff contention, but will find out today (Monday, November 8) to find out if they will receive a birth in the ECAC tournament. Southern Maine sophomore keeper Chris Willard (Hampton, CT) made three saves in net for the Huskies, who finished just one spot out of the LEC tournament.