(Courtesy of Husson Sports Information)

            BANGOR, Maine -- The Maine Maritime Academy Mariners picked up their first win of the 2013 season with a 4-0 shutout against the University of Southern Maine Huskies in the first round of play in the 2nd Annual New Balance Challenge Cup at Husson University.

            The Mariners struck first in the 22nd minute off the leg of sophomore Jonathan Reeks (Bedford, N.H.) as he came down the right side, placing the ball in the left side of the net.  Reeks had entered the game just seconds before the goal.

            Reeks scored his second goal of the season in the 33rd minute as he took a pass from classmate Kyle Haslam (Lamoine, Maine/Ellsworth).  Reeks netted the ball for the easy score after pulling the Huskies goalkeeper deep out of the net.

            Senior Nicholas George (Bangor, Maine) tallied the third goal of the game, unassisted, for Maine Maritime in the 73rd minute. The Mariners found the net once more in the 86th minute on a fantastic try by senior Chad McDonnell (East Lyme, Conn.).  McDonnell, with some fancy footwork, was able to beat the keeper for the open net goal.

            Mariners goalkeeper Jesse Perkins made four saves while picking up his first win of the 2013 season.

            The Huskies saw an early injury to rookie goalkeeper Matthew Willis (Standish, Maine/Bonny Eagle).  Willis allowed one goal with one save before leaving the game in the 30th minute. Freshman Adam Verreault (Poland, Maine) replaced Willis in net, allowing three goals against three saves.

            The Mariners improve to 1-1-1 on the season while the Huskies fall to 0-3.  Maine Maritime will play Gordon College tomorrow at Husson at 5:00 p.m., and the Huskies will play host Husson at 7:30 p.m.  Gordon defeated Husson 4-1 in the other game Friday.

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