GORHAM, Maine – Sophomore Julia Pearl's (Essex Jct., Vt.) goal midway through the third period proved decisive as the University of Southern Maine Huskies held off the Saint Michael's College Purple Knights, 2-1, in an ECAC Women's East game Friday night at the USM Ice Arena.

            The game was the season opener for the Huskies.  The winless Purple Knights dropped their third straight game.

            Pearl took a pass from junior Bridget O'Brien (Boston, Mass.) in the neutral zone, sifted her way through the Purple Knight defense and lifted a backhand shot over senior goalie Erin Stevens (Watertown, Conn.) at 11:15 of the third period.

            Pearl's goal gave the Huskies a 2-0 lead at the time and proved to be the game winner after junior Macey Thomas (Amherst, Mass.) tipped home a shot from the left wing by senior Allison Graf (Long Lake, Minn.) with 16.2 seconds remaining in regulation.  The goal was the first of the season for Thomas.

            The teams played a scoreless first period with USM holding a 9-6 edge in shots on goal.  USM broke the stalemate at the 5:00 mark of the middle stanza as freshman Sarah Timmons (Fall River, Nova Scotia) scored her first collegiate goal.  Timmons buried a 15-foot shot from the right side after taking a pass from classmate Cassandra Sherman (North Smithfield, R.I.).  Junior Jackie Lacroix (Barre, Vt.) also picked up an assist on the play.

            Sophomore goalie Liz Bergstrom (Chanhassen, Minn.) recorded 19 saves in the USM cage to earn her first win of the season.  Stevens stopped 26 shots before being lifted for the extra attacker with 1:26 to play.

            Southern Maine returns to action Saturday afternoon (4:00 p.m.) when it hosts #1 ranked Norwich University (3-0-2).  Saint Michael's travels to Plymouth State University (0-1-0) on Saturday (2:00 p.m.).