With the win, Southern Maine shuts the door on a two-game slide and improves to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in the Little East.  The loss is the first for the Colonials in four games and drops their record to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

            Senior back Joanna Gaube (Woodstock, Conn./Pomfret School) made sure the Huskies were playing up a goal early, scoring on an unassisted strike just 1:45 into the game following a penalty corner.  Gaube's first goal of the season stood through the half. 

            Starting the second half, McDaniel and Trafton continued the trend of early goals for USM as McDaniel slotted in a goal in the 37th minute to put the Huskies up 2-0.  Just three minutes later in the 40th, the McDaniel-Trafton tandem raced down the field for another goal and a 3-0 lead.  The goal was McDaniel's team-leading sixth of the season, while the assist was Trafton's second of the game and of the season.

            Trafton continued to provide the Huskies with an offensive punch notching her first goal of the season in the 48th minute when she tapped in a driven assist from junior back Bethany Bougie (Sanford, Maine). 

            Western Connecticut pressured the Huskies late in the game and was able to break up the shut out bid in the 67th minute.  Junior forward Lauren Atkinson (Southbury, Conn.) notched her seventh goal of the season with an unassisted goal. 

            Colonial sophomore goalkeeper Heather Stone (Valhalla, N.Y.) made five saves in the loss.  USM freshman Kayla Kennedy (Windham, Maine) earned the win playing the opening 42:04 of the game while making one save.  Freshman Emily Downing (Sanford, Maine) relieved Kennedy and played the final 27:56, allowing one goal while making three saves.

            Southern Maine hosts Bowdoin College on Tuesday (3:30 p.m.).  Western Connecticut hosts Vassar College on Tuesday (6:00 p.m.).