GORHAM, Maine -- Senior Christen Hart (Saugus, Mass.) scored the game-winning goal and dished out three assists as the University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the Saint Michael's College Purple Knights, 4-1, in an ECAC Women's East game Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at the USM Ice Arena.

            The win snapped a three-game winless (0-2-1) streak for the Huskies and improved their record to 6-11-4 overall and 6-6-2 in league play. The Purple Knights, winners in their previous two games, dropped to 3-16-1 overall and 2-13-1 in ECAC play.

            The teams skated through a scoreless first period with the Huskies out shooting the Purple Knights, 13-3, but unable to slip the puck past junior goaltender Erin Stevens (Watertown, Conn.).

            Junior Alex Smith (Winthrop, Mass.) broke the scoreless deadlock at 6:14 with the first of her two power-play goals, set up by Hart and senior Kylie Blasen (Okemos, Mich.).  Three minutes later, Hart tallied what proved to be the winner netting another power-play goal off an assist from senior Katie Paradis (Rochester, N.H.).

            Smith scored her second power-play goal with a well-placed 50-foot shot after taking a pass from Hart.  Junior Kailey Bubier (Auburn, Maine) completed the Huskies' four-goal explosion taking a pass from Hart and beating Stevens on a breakaway for a short-handed goal at 15:25.

            Saint Michael's, the recipient of four power-play opportunities in the third period, broke up USM rookie goalie Liz Bergstrom's (Chanhassen, Minn.) shutout bid at 12:38 when rookie Ellia Heroux (Thunder Bay, Ontario) tipped home a shot for a power-play goal.  The goal was the first of Heroux's collegiate career.  Juniors Lisa D'Angelo (Suffield, Conn.) and Macey Thomas (Amherst, Mass.) picked up the assists.

            Stevens finished the game stopping 26 shots while Bergstrom registered 13 saves.  The Huskies were 3 for 5 on the power play during the game while the Purple Knights were 1 for 6.

            Southern Maine hits the road next weekend traveling to Castleton State College on Friday (4:00 p.m.).  Saint Michael's is home next weekend for a two-game, non-conference series with Lindenwood College.

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