GORHAM, Maine – Freshman forward Cassandra Sherman (North Smithfield, R.I.) scored an unassisted short-handed goal — one of her two goals in the third period — with 1:36 remaining to break a 2-2 tie and propel the University of Southern Maine Huskies women's hockey team past the Plymouth State Panthers, 3-2, in an ECAC Women's East game Friday at USM Ice Arena.

            With the win, the Huskies improved to 4-4-4 on the season and 3-2-2 in conference play.  The Panthers dropped to 2-10-0 overall and 1-6-0 in the league.

            After a scoreless opening 10 minutes of the third period, Sherman got a rebound of a shot from senior forward Kailey Bubier (Auburn, Maine) and tipped the puck past Plymouth junior goaltender Ali Ponte (Richmond Hill, Ontario) to even the score at 2-2 at the 11:21 mark.

            USM was assessed a penalty with 2:31 left to play, but Sherman gathered a loose puck near the blue line and was able to break free and beat Ponte once again, giving USM the 3-2 lead.  Sherman now leads the team with five goals.

            Plymouth State struck first when junior forward Ali Myers (Seattle, Wash.) corralled a rebound off a shot from junior forward Katie Landry (Agawam, Mass.) and beat USM sophomore goalie Liz Bergstrom (Chanhassen, Minn.), netting her first goal of the season to put the Panthers on top 1-0 4:40 into the first period.  Landry was credited with the assist.

            USM junior forward Erin Banfield (Montpelier, Vt.) would even the score when she took passes from senior Alex Smith (Winthrop, Mass./St. Mary's) and junior forward Brittany Soar (Boxborough, Mass.) to score a power-play goal — her third goal of the season — with 10:18 remaining in the second period.

            The tie was short-lived, though, as Plymouth answered 26 seconds later on a goal from sophomore forward Kelsey Cosby (Walpole, Mass.) off an assist freshman forward Marissa Zamrock (Lewiston, Maine) to put the Panthers up 2-1.

            Southern Maine held the advantage over Plymouth State in shots, 41-13, with Bergstrom making 11 saves.  Ponte made 13 saves in each of the first two periods and finished the game with 38 stops.

            Southern Maine and Plymouth State will play the second half of their home-and-home series at PSU on Saturday (2:00 p.m.).