GORHAM, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine women 's ice hockey team picked up its first win of the 2014-15 season Friday afternoon as the Huskies defeated the visiting Saint Michael's College Purple Knights, 3-1, in an ECAC Women's East game at the USM Ice Arena.

            The Huskies (1-2-0; 1-2-0) got goals from three different players and senior goalie Liz Bergstrom (Chanhassen, Minn.) stopped 18 shots to earn the win.  The Purple Knights (0-4-0; 0-3-0) could only counter with a goal from sophomore Erin Dwyer (Weymouth, Mass.) after falling behind 3-0.

            Senior Talya Bent (Cranston, R.I.) put the Huskies in the board with the only goal of the first period.  Bent intercepted a clearing attempt along the right-wing boards, curled into the circle and flipped the puck over the shoulder of Saint Michael's sophomore goalie Abby Burke (Bedford, Mass.) for the Huskies first goal of the season.

            USM increased its lead to 2-0 in the opening minute of the second period as sophomore McKenna Russell (Stoughton, Mass.), streaking in on a line change, took a pass from classmate Lynn Kozlowski (Stoneham, Mass.) and beat Burke from 20 feet out for her first career goal.  Junior Cassandra Sherman (North Smithfield, R.I.) also picked up an assist on the goal that came at 48 seconds.

            Rookie Jess Avery (Kingston, N.S.) made it 3-0 at 8:02 converting a pass from senior Julia Pearl (Essex Jct., Vt.).  Pearl picked up a loose puck on the left wing side and skated in towards Burke freezing the St. Michael's goaltender.  Pearl slid the puck across to Avery who buried her shot into the open side before Burke could get across.

            The Purple Knights called a timeout at that point to regroup, and regroup they did.  Twenty-three seconds later, Dwyer deposited a loose puck out of a scramble in front of the net behind Bergstrom for her first goal of the season.  Senior Fernanda Saavedra (Miami, Fla.) and junior Amanda Kempainen (Chazy, N.Y.) picked up the assists.

            Neither team could find the back of the net over the final 31 minutes as Bergstrom and Burke shut the door.  The Purple Knights lifted Burke for the extra attacker with 1:27 to play, but were unable to generate any shots on Bergstrom.

            Saint Michael's finished the game with a 19-15 edge in shots on goal, but went 0 for 4 on the power play.  Burke stopped 12 shots before heading to the bench.

            Southern Maine is back in action Saturday afternoon (1:00 p.m.) hosting Saint Anselm College.  Saint Michael's will travel to the University of New England on Saturday (3:00 p.m.). 

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