MANSFIELD, Conn. -- Senior Grant Albertson (New Canaan, Conn./Trinity Pawling) and junior Salieu Bolivar (Norwalk, Conn./Brien McMahon) each scored three goals as Eastern Connecticut State University defeated the University of Southern Maine 11-7 in the teams' Little East Conference opener Saturday afternoon at the Mansfield Outdoor Athletic Complex.

            The win was the second straight, and sixth in the last seven games, for the Warriors and lifts their overall record to 6-2.  The Huskies, who have never beaten the Warriors in 10 tries, dropped their third straight to slip to 2-5 overall.

            Albertson and Bolivar led all scorers with a hat trick and an assist each.  Rookie Mike Devine (Cheshire, Conn.) and senior Vinny Tornatore (Norwalk, Conn.) added two goals apiece for the Warriors.  Second-year goalie Donald Berube (Tewksbury, Mass.) made 12 saves before giving way to sophomore Drew Deane (Vernon, Conn./Rockville) with 2:20 to play.  Deane did not record a save.

            Junior Kyle Baker (Kennebunk, Maine) was the only repeat goal scorer for the Huskies netting two goals.  Classmate Kayle Hamilton (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) had two assists.  Sophomore goalie Kyle Dussault (Lewiston, Maine) was outstanding making 18 saves.

            The Huskies grabbed a 2-1 lead in the opening six minutes as freshman Dylan Bousquet-Smith (Bowdoinham, Maine/Mt. Ararat) and Baker sandwiched a goal by Bolivar.  Devine, Tornatore and Albertson would score before the end of the period to give the Warriors a 4-2 edge after 15 minutes of play.

            In the second quarter, junior Willie Joy (Portland, Maine/Deering) and sophomore Mark White (Oakville, Ontario) scored for USM.  After Joy scored his first goal of the season in the opening minute, Tornatore, Bolivar and Albertson scored before White tallied a man-up marker with 1:44 left in the period to make it 7-4 at halftime

            Devine and Albertson increased the margin to 9-4 in the third period prior to senior Tim Bryant (Peterborough, N.H.) finding the net, assisted by Hamilton, for the Huskies.

            The Warriors improved their lead to six (11-5) on goals by rookie Tyler Fresen (Newington, Conn.) and Bolivar in the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter.  The Huskies got two late goals from sophomore Marc Stannard (Wilder, Vt./Hartford) and Baker to close the gap.

            The Warriors had a big edge in shots (45-29) and ground balls (39-18).  Senior All-American Eric Vasil (Southington, Conn.) was outstanding at the X winning 16 of 18 faceoffs.

            Southern Maine will play New England College on Monday (3:00 p.m.) in a non-conference game.  Eastern Connecticut hosts the University of Massachusetts Boston next Saturday (4:00 p.m.) in an LEC game.