Box Score GORHAM, Maine – Senior Rachel Trafton (Corinth, Maine/Central) scored a goal and added an assist as the University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the Plymouth State University Panthers 4-2 in a Little East Conference field hockey game Tuesday afternoon at Hannaford Field in Gorham, Maine.
With the win, Southern Maine snaps a six-game losing streak and improves to 5-7 overall and 2-4 in the Little East Conference. The loss is the second in the last three games for the Panthers who fall to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in the Little East.
Trafton put the Huskies ahead early with her fifth goal of the season in the fourth minute. After having her initial attempt on goal turned away, Trafton calmly collected the rebound and redirected the ball for a 1-0 USM lead. The Huskies doubled their advantage three minutes later when junior Natalie Harkins (Windham, Maine) knocked in her first goal of the season in the seventh minute. The Huskies made it 3-0 before the half as Trafton fed freshman Allison Ward (Rockland, Maine/Oceanside) in the 34th minute.
In the second half, Southern Maine would waste little time before increasing its advantage to 4-0. Junior Stefanie Lomasney (York, Maine) fed sophomore Peyton Dostie (Standish, Maine/Bonny Eagle) with a through ball for Dostie's team-leading seventh goal of the season in the 36th minute.
The Panthers did leave without a fight however as sophomore Kristen Morris (Stoughton, Mass.) scored twice within a three-minute span to put her team back in the game. Trailing 4-0, Morris drove in her first goal of the game with an unassisted strike in the 58th minute, before unleashing a strong shot in the 60th minute off of an assist from freshman Leah Kenison-Marvin (Center Tuftonboro, N.H./Kingswood Regional).
Junior goalkeeper Kayla Kennedy (Windham, Maine) made 16 saves to earn the win. Plymouth State sophomore Katylyn Hall (Greenfield, N.H./ConVal) turned back five shots in the loss. PSU had a 25-12 advantage in shots and a 15-4 edge in penalty corners.
Southern Maine travels to the University of New England on Thursday (7:00 p.m.) for a non-conference game. Plymouth State travels to Fitchburg State on Saturday (10:00 a.m.) for an LEC contest.
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