Box Score GORHAM, Maine – Five different players scored at least one goal as the University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the Salem State University Vikings 6-3 in a Little East Conference field hockey game Tuesday afternoon at Hannaford Field.
The win halts a five-game losing streak for the Huskies and improves their record to 4-7 overall and 1-3 in the Little East Conference. The Vikings suffer their first conference defeat with the loss to drop to 3-1 and 5-3 overall.
Husky senior Rebecca Pratt (Cornville, Maine/Skowhegan) scored both of her goals in the opening 13 minutes of the game to spot her team an early 2-0 lead. Pratt's first goal came in the fifth minute when she redirected a driven ball from sophomore Jessica Boghosian (Belgrade, Maine/Messalonskee). Pratt notched her second goal in the 13th minute, tipping in a pass from freshman Jennifer Poulin (Winslow, Maine).
The Vikings rallied before the end of the half to knot the game up at two goals each. Senior Lauren Pazdziorny (Middleton, Mass./Masconomet Regional) and sophomore Kathleen Clark (Southboro, Mass./Algonquin) combined for both Vikings' goals. Pazdziorny knocked in a goal in the 21st minute on an assist from Clark, while Pazdziorny returned the favor in the 24th minute feeding Clark for a goal and a 2-2 tie.
After the half, the game remained tied at two until Husky junior Peyton Dostie (Standish, Maine/Bonny Eagle) ran onto a through ball from senior Natalie Harkins (Windham, Maine) in the 53rd minute for a 3-1 lead. The goal is Dostie's team-leading eighth of the season. Less than a minute later, Boghosian followed with her second goal of the season, weaving her way into the circle and unleashing a powerful shot for a 4-2 USM lead. The Huskies' made it 5-2 in the 55th minute when senior Ariel Kaplan (South Berwick, Maine/Marshwood) collected a loose ball in front of the cage for her first goal of the season.
The scoring took a break until the 62nd minute when Boghosian again deftly cut the Viking defense in the circle before leaving a perfectly placed ball for freshman Michaela Demers (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Memorial). With a wide open look at the net, Demers recorded her first collegiate goal for a 6-2 Husky advantage.
Viking junior Kelsey Russell (Arlington, Mass.) tacked on a goal for Salem State in the 69th minute for the 6-3 final.
USM senior Kayla Kennedy (Windham, Maine) made seven saves in the win, allowing two goals in 62:46 of action. Junior Lindsey Fortin (Berwick, Maine/Noble) played the final 7:14, making two saves and allowing a goal. Salem State freshman Carolyn Woodin (Arlington, Mass.) made 13 saves in the loss. Senior Stephanie Morrison (Beverly, Mass./Bishop Fenwich) made two defensive saves for the Vikings.
Southern Maine hosts Bates College on Thursday (4:00 p.m.) in its next contest. Salem State travels to UMass Dartmouth on Saturday (12:00 p.m.).
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