Box Score GORHAM, Maine – Freshman Michaela George (Pittsfield, Maine/Maine Central Institute) scored two goals while sophomore Peyton Dostie (Standish, Maine/Bonny Eagle) notched the eventual game-winner as the University of Southern Maine Huskies field hockey team opened their 2012 season with a 4-2 win over the Wheaton College (Mass.) Lyons in the first game of the USM Invitational Saturday afternoon at Hannaford Field in Gorham, Maine.
Junior forward Ariel Kaplan (South Berwick, Maine/Marshwood) added a goal and an assist to push Southern Maine's record to 1-0. Wheaton falls to 0-1 with the loss.
George scored her first collegiate goal on an unassisted strike off of a loose ball during a penalty corner in the 13th minute. It was the first of four unanswered goals for the Huskies. Kaplan followed with her first goal of the season off of an assist from junior captain Natalie Harkins (Windham, Maine) in the 24th minute. Dostie registered her first collegiate goal in the 30th minute to give the Huskies a commanding 3-0 lead headed into the break.
In the second half, George converted her second goal of the game in the 46th minute redirecting a pass from Kaplan for the 4-0 USM lead 29 minutes remaining in regulation.
Wheaton sophomore forward Tracy McCann (Westerly, R.I./Lincoln) tallied a pair of goals to bring the Lyons to within 4-2 of the Huskies, including a breakaway goal in the 68th minute, but it was as close as Wheaton would get.
USM junior goalkeeper Kayla Kennedy (Windham, Maine) made two saves playing the first 35 minutes before giving way to sophomore Lindsey Fortin (Berwick, Maine/Noble). Fortin made six saves and allowed two goals in 35 minutes. Wheaton junior Ellie Massengill (Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional) took the loss making seven saves and allowing three goals in 35 minutes. Sophomore Madison Wolters (Marstons Mills, Mass./Barnstable) closed out the final 35 minutes making five saves and allowing one goal.
Southern Maine hosts Neumann on Sunday (12:00 p.m.). Wheaton will face Husson at 2:00 p.m.
Husson 2, Neumann 1
Gorham, Maine – Senior midfielder Kara Poirier (Berlin, N.H./Berlin) and junior forward Sabrina Vaillancourt (Newport, Maine/Nokomis) each scored a goal to lead the Husson University Eagles to a 2-1 win over the Neumann University Knights in the second game of the USM Field Hockey Invitational Saturday afternoon at Hannaford Field in Gorham, Maine.
With both teams playing in their season openers, the Eagles start 2012 at 1-0. The Knights fall to 0-1.
Poirier put Husson on the board first scoring an unassisted goal at 25:02. Poirier's goal would stand throughout the first half as the Eagles led 1-0 at the break. The Knights rallied to tie the score at 1-1 in the 43rd minute when sophomore Marisa Rizzo (Pittsgrove, N.J./Schalick) converted an assist from senior midfielder Kelsey Mazur (Sayreville, N.J./Sayerville War Memorial).
Vaillancourt broke up the tie in the 60th minute knocking in a driven pass from sophomore back Melissa Souza (East Bridgewater, Mass.) for the 2-1 victory.
Husson freshman goalkeeper Maicee Gustin (Dexter, Maine) had a strong game making nine saves and allowing one goal. Neumann junior goalkeeper Lindsey Kasecamp (Bel Air, Md./Patterson Mill) also had a strong game for the Knights making 14 saves.
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