Box Score GORHAM, Maine – Junior Cristina Mountain (Dexter, Maine) knocked in the game-winning goal in the fourth minute of the overtime period to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 3-2 overtime win over the New England College Pilgrims Wednesday evening at Hannaford Field in Gorham, Maine.
The win is the third straight for USM and improves its overall record to 8-11. Suffering its second consecutive loss, New England College falls to 8-11 on the season with the loss
The Huskies grabbed a 1-0 lead despite being outshot and out-cornered by the Pilgrims 16-6 and 11-0 respectively in the first half. Junior forward Ariel Kaplan (South Berwick, Maine/Marshwood) scored her fifth goal of the season in the 20th minute off of an assist from junior Natalie Harkins (Windham, Maine).
The score stood at 1-0 until late in the game, before New England College senior Katherine Rich (Westborough, Mass.) and senior Rachel Carnaroli (Bellingham, Mass.) connected for a pair of goals in the 61st and 66th minutes. Rich scored both goals off of adeptly slotted balls fro Carnaroli following penalty corners.
With the clock winding down towards the end of regulation, Kaplan delivered the Huskies to overtime with her sixth goal of the season in the 69th minute. In overtime, the Huskies outshot New England College 4-0 before Mountain drove in the game-winner. After a pair of saves from Pilgrim goalkeeper Courtney Duquette (Enfield, N.H./Mascoma Valley) on two shots from USM sophomore Peyton Dostie (Standish, Maine/Bonny Eagle), Mountain hustled her way to a loose ball for her first goal of the season.
Both goalkeepers were outstanding in net. Duquette made nine saves, while USM junior Kayla Kennedy (Windham, Maine) mad 17 saves. NEC outshot USM 27-19 for the game and had a 22-5 advantage in corners. Pilgrim junior Jaclyn Papagni (Lynfield, Mass.) had a pair of defensive saves, while sophomore Patricia Wright (Essex, Mass./Manchester-Essex) had one.
Southern Maine hosts Western Connecticut State on Saturday (12:00 p.m.). It is the final home game of the season for the Huskies and will play a key role in their seeding for the upcoming Little East Conference tournament. The Huskies will also be wearing pink as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month in their "Think Pink Game." New England College hosts St. Joseph's College (Maine) on Saturday (2:00 p.m.) in the quarterfinal round of the North Atlantic Conference tournament.
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