GORHAM, Maine -- Senior midfielder Julie Brown (Lynnfield, Mass.) scored three goals as Bates College rallied from an one-goal deficit to defeat the University of Southern Maine, 4-1, in a non-conference women's soccer match Tuesday afternoon at the USM Soccer Field.
Bates won its second straight match to improve to 3-5-0 overall. Southern Maine, winless in its last six matches, slips to 3-6-1.
Southern Maine took a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute when senior Caitlin Brown (Camden, Maine) lofted a cross over Bates sophomore goalkeeper Brittney French (Auburn, Maine) that found the far side of the goal. The goal snapped a scoreless drought of 469 minutes for the Huskies.
The Huskies' lead lasted into the 40th minute when Brown got the equalizer with an unassisted score. Three minutes later, senior Jen Marino (Methuen, Mass.) made a good run along the left wing end line and crossed the ball to Brown who headed it past USM junior Alison Bradley (Auckland, New Zealand) for her second goal. The opening half ended with the Bobcats up 2-1 and holding a 12-2 edge in shots.
Brown completed her hat trick in the 58th minute converting an assist from freshman Sam Alper (Holliston, Mass.). Alper closed the scoring finishing off an assist from junior Avery Pierce (Weston, Mass.) in the 65th minute.
French played the first 75 minutes in goal for Bates and did not register a save. Freshman Annie Burns (Topsfield, Mass.) played the final 15 minutes stopping one shot. Bradley was busy in the USM goal making 12 saves in the first 79 minutes. Freshman Kat Rothe (Leeds, Maine) had one save in the final 11 minutes.
Bates finished the match with a 25-6 advantage in shots and a 6-1 margin in corner kicks.
Southern Maine hits the road this Saturday (1:00 p.m.) traveling to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for a critical Little East Conference match. Bates will travel to Trinity College for a NESCAC match on Saturday (11:00 a.m.).
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