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            PLYMOUTH, N.H. -- Freshman Erin Banfield (Montpelier, Vt.) scored three third-period goals to help the University of Southern Maine women's ice hockey team defeat Plymouth State University, 7-0, in an ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Women's East game Tuesday night at the Hanaway Rink.

            The win snapped a seven-game winless streak (0-6-1) for the Huskies, and improved their record to 2-6-1 overall and 2-5-1 in league play.  The Panthers remain winless on the season at 0-7-1 overall and in league games.  The Huskies last win came at the expense of the Panthers in the teams' season opener on November 6.

            The Huskies broke a long scoreless drought in the final minute of the second period when sophomore Kailey Bubier (Auburn, Maine) tallied a short-handed goal off an assist from junior Joanna Gaube (Woodstock, Conn.).  The goal was the Huskies' first since November 20 at Castleton State, and snapped a string of over 251 minutes without a goal.

            The floodgates opened in the third period as the Huskies found the net six times.  The six goals in one period were the most by the Huskies since they lit the lamp eight times en route to a 16-0 win against Plymouth State on January 15.

            Freshman Shannon Cronin (Wakefield, Mass.) began the onslaught with her first collegiate goal, an unassisted tally, at 3:40.  Freshman Brittany Soar (Boxborough, Mass.) and Banfield scored goals 46 seconds apart (6:59 and 7:45) to increase the Huskies' lead to 4-0.  Gaube added a power-play marker at 8:47, and Banfield scored twice on the power play over the final eight minutes to account for the final tally.

            Soar had two assists to go along with her second goal of the season.  Junior Katie Paradis (Rochester, N.H.) picked up three assists, and junior Lauren Whiting (Hampton, N.H.) had two helpers.

            Freshman goalie Jordan Lee (Colorado Springs, Colo.) earned her second win of the campaign, and first collegiate shutout, stopping all 16 shots she faced.  Rookie Ali Ponte (Richmond Hills, Ontario) surrendered five goals and registered 30 saves before giving way to junior Nicole Provencher (Guilford, Conn.).  Provencher made three saves over the final 11 minutes.

            Southern Maine is off for exams and the holidays until hosting Sacred Heart University for a two-game series January 4-5.  Plymouth State will travel to Buffalo State College for a two-game non-conference set this Friday (7:00 p.m.) and Saturday (2:00 p.m.).

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