PORTLAND, Maine – The host University of Southern Maine field hockey team posted a 5-1 victory over Bridgewater State University in a Little East Conference (LEC) battle on Saturday afternoon at Hannaford field.
The Huskies improve to 5-3 (3-0 LEC) on the season and the Bears fall to 1-6 (0-2 LEC). With the win Southern Maine now holds a 30-13-2 advantage in the all-time series, which began in 1976.
The Huskies first goal of the day came off the stick of Sage Drinkwater (Steep Falls, Maine) at 7:03 in the first quarter. Drinkwater found the back of the cage for the sixth time this season on a long shot from the top of the circle. Mary Keef (Westbrook, Maine) tallied the assist on the play.
Forward Hannah Banks (Belfast, Maine) added another Huskies goal via a penalty corner midway through the second quarter. Banks scored off a rebound following a battle just in front of the net, her second of the season.
The third goal of the day for the Huskies came in the third quarter from Brooke Carson (Bryant Pond, Maine). Drinkwater fed a cross pass to the far-right post, and Carson lifted the ball past Bridgewater goalkeeper Ashley Hamelin (Whitinsville, Mass.).
Abigail Chartier (Lewiston, Maine) netted the fourth goal of the game at 39:49 in the third quarter on a backhanded shot that found its way through four Bridgewater defenders, into the bottom right-side corner of the cage.
Carson netted her second of the game at 41:51 in the third quarter. Chloe Arsenault (Boothbay, Maine) sent the ball into the circle, setting up Carson who used a backhanded short flip to find the back of the net.
The Bears added a goal of their own at the start of the fourth quarter off a penalty corner. Junior forward Zoe Bergeron (Blackstone, Mass.) capitalized on a Sophia Morse (West Bridgewater, Mass.) pass, sending a strike past Huskies netminder Eleanor Folsom (Winthrop, Maine). The goal marked the second of the season for Bergeron.
Southern Maine goalkeeper Julianna Kiklis (York, Maine) played the first half for the huskies, making two saves. Folsom handled the duties between the pipes in the second half but did not see any shots.
Bridgewater freshman Hamelin saw all 60 minutes in the net, tallying 15 saves on the day.
The Huskies outshot the Bears 28-5 on the day (21-3 on goal) and finished with a 15-3 advantage in penalty corners.
Both teams jump back into LEC action on Tuesday September 27th. Bridgewater State will entertain the Falcons of Fitchburg State at 7:00 PM. Southern Maine will travel to Salem State to take on the Vikings at 7:00 PM.