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            SCARBOROUGH, Maine -- Senior Nick Johnson (South Portland, Maine) scored a pair of first-half goals to lead the University of Southern Maine to a 3-0 victory over Western Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference men's soccer match played at Scarborough High School.

            The win moves the Huskies, 4-8-2 overall and 3-2-0 in conference play, into fourth place in the conference standings with two games to play.  The Colonials dropped their third straight match to fall to 3-8-1 overall and 1-4-0 in LEC play.  The match was moved to Scarborough High School due to the rains that made USM home surface unplayable.

            Playing in windy conditions, the Huskies grabbed a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute when Johnson put his head to a cross from the right wing by sophomore Matt Powers (Strattford, N.H./Coe-Brown Northwood).  Thirty minutes later, Johnson ran onto a through pass from senior Peter McHugh (Scarborough, Maine) and beat Western Connecticut freshman goalkeeper Jack Holub (Sherman, Conn.) with a low, 15-yard shot inside the left post.  The two goals give Johnson four on the season.  Johnson's two shots were the only shots USM had in the opening half while playing into the wind.

            The lone goal of the second half came early as junior LT Sierra (Leeds, Maine/Leavitt Area) got to a loose ball at midfield and lofted a wind-aided 45-yard shot over Holub for his second goal of the season.

            USM senior keeper David Kreps (Agawam, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson) recorded six saves to post his fourth clean sheet of the season, and the 21st of his career.  Holub finished the match with three stops.  Both sides were credited with 10 shots while USM enjoyed 5-3 edge in corner kicks.

            Southern Maine returns to action on Tuesday (4:00 p.m.) when it host nationally-ranked Bowdoin College.  Western Connecticut travels to Ramapo College on Wednesday (4:00 p.m.).

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