Strong second half lifts Southern Maine over WestConn, 5-3
DANBURY, CT (Sept. 20) — Trailing 3-2 with less than 10 minutes remaining to play, the University of Southern Maine field hockey team scored three unanswered goals to claim a 5-3 victory over Little East Conference rival Western Connecticut State University Sunday afternoon at the Westside Athletic Complex.
The Huskies got on the board early when Bethany Schleh (Gorham, ME) took a pass from India Lowe (Gloucester, MA) and gave Southern Maine a 1-0 lead in the game’s first minute. WestConn senior Meredith Stuart (Washington, CT) scored for the Colonials on a penalty shot in the fifteenth minute of play and set up the team's second goal, by Stephanie Szafran (Killingworth, CT) in the closing minutes of the first half to give WestConn a 2-1 lead at intermission.
Four minutes into the second half, the Huskies tied the score 2-2 when three Southern Maine forwards got behind the WestConn defense for a three-on-none breakaway. WestConn freshman Valerie Lupo (New Fairfield, CT) put the Colonials back on top three minutes later and the score remained 3-2 for the next 15 minutes of play.
With just under nine minutes remaining, Whitney McDaniel (Livermore, ME) scored for Southern Maine to tie the score at 3-3.
India Lowe, who finished the day with one goal and two assists, quickly broke the tie in favor of the Huskies, and when Heidi Swett (Turner, ME) scored for Southern Maine with 1:30 remaining on the clock, the Huskies took the victory, 5-3.
For the game, Southern Maine outshot the Colonials 27-9 and held a 13-6 advantage in corners.
Allison Hill (Cape Elizabeth, ME) made three saves in goal for the Huskies to earn the victory, while freshman Heather Stone (Valhalla, NY) made seven savings in a losing effort for the Colonials.
With the loss, WestConn falls to 1-6 on the season and 0-2 in the Little East Conference. Southern Maine now stands at 4-3, 1-1 in the LEC. WestConn returns to action Wednesday, September 23 when it travels to Vassar. Game time is slated for 4:00pm.
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