GORHAM, Maine -- A goal in the 58th minute by junior Scott Mitchell (Stoughton, Mass.) proved decisive as the visiting University of New England Nor'easters held off the University of Southern Maine Huskies, 2-1, in a non-conference men's soccer match Monday afternoon at Hannaford Field.

            The victory snapped a three-match winless stretch (0-2-1) for the Nor'easters, and lifted them back to the .500 mark for the season at 5-5-2 overall.  The Huskies remain winless on the season dropping to 0-12-1.

            Mitchell scored his first collegiate after finding himself in the right spot to knock in a loose ball after a UNE corner kick was not cleared by the Southern Maine defense.  The goal made it 2-0 at the time.

            Less than five minutes later, USM junior Ryan Jordan (Standish, Maine/Bonny Eagle) cut the deficit in half with a long-range free kick that changed direction on its way in past UNE junior goalkeeper Aidan McParland (Brockville, Ontario).  The goal was Jordan's first in two seasons in a USM jersey.

            Southern Maine's best opportunity for an equalizing goal came less than a minute later, but sophomore Michael Daniel's (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) shot from 15 yards out went just over the crossbar.

            Junior Sean Goodrich (Gorham, N.H.) gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute nodding in a short cross from rookie Ryan Stephens (Stow, Mass.).  Stephens beat his defender along the left end line and chipped a nifty cross to the top of the six-yard box for Goodrich to head home for his team-leading fifth marker of the season.

            McParland picked up his fourth win of the season registering four saves.  USM rookie goalkeeper Adam Verreault (Poland, Maine/Poland Regional) recorded two saves.  Verreault made his best stop in the 68th minute getting a hand to a shot headed for the back post off the foot of sophomore Will Bushey (South Portland, Maine).

            The Huskies finished the match with an 11-7 edge in shots while the Nor'easters took one more corner kick (7-6).

            Southern Maine is off until Saturday (3:00 p.m.) when it hosts Little East Conference rival Eastern Connecticut State University.  UNE is back in action on Wednesday evening (6:00 p.m.) traveling to Johnson and Wales University for a non-conference match.

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