BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The visiting University of Southern Maine field hockey team posted a 4-1 victory over Bridgewater State University in a Little East Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Field.
The Huskies improve to 6-6 on the season and 4-1 in the Little East, while the Bears fall to 1-8 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
Sophomore forward Samantha Ellis (New Vineyard, Maine) and senior midfielder Maggie Redman (Alfred, Maine) tallied two goals apiece to lead the way for Southern Maine
Ellis opened the scoring for the Huskies late in the first quarter as she flipped a backhand shot into the top-right corner of the net off a short pass from senior forward Dorina Sirois (Saco, Maine).
Redman scored off a flurry in front of the net following a penalty corner to make it a 2-0 game with 2:51 remaining in the second quarter.\
BSU senior forward Jacquelyn Legendre (Westport, Mass.) potted her first goal of the season midway through the third quarter to cut the deficit in half. Sophomore forward Katie Swart (Bridgewater, Mass.) picked up her first collegiate point as she set up Legendre's strike with a beautiful pass between two defenders. Legendre stick-handled in and beat the keeper with a shot inside the left post.
The Huskies regained the two-goal cushion 4:21into the fourth quarter as Redman notched her second goal of the afternoon. Off a penalty corner, Redman batted the ball out of midair after the BSU keeper made a nice save on an Ellis deflection.
USM converted again off a penalty corner with just 39 seconds left to play to make it a 4-1 game as Ellis redirected shot by Sirois into the left side of the cage.
Southern Maine finished with an 18-5 shot advantage as well as an 11-3 edge in penalty corner attempts.
Sophomore goalkeeper Lindsay Pych (West Milford, N.J.) made two saves to record her sixth win of the season between the pipes for the Huskies. BSU senior netminder Jillian Delaney (Foxborough, Mass.) turned aside seven shots in the setback.
The Little East schedule continues for both team on Wednesday. The Bears host the Rams Framingham State University at 3:30, while the Huskies travel to Worcester State University for a seven o'clock game with the Lancers.