Box Score GORHAM, Maine -- Senior Rebecca Pratt's (Cornville, Maine/Skowhegan Area) goal with less than eight minutes left in regulation proved decisive as the University of Southern Maine Huskies rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Manhattanville College Valiants 3-2 in the season-opening game of the USM Invitational Friday morning at Hannaford Field.
After a failed corner attempt, Pratt was able to beat Manhattanville sophomore goalkeeper Meghan Hughes (Kintnersville, Pa./Palisades) for the game-winning goal. Pratt camped out in front of Hughes and collected a reverse hit into the circle from junior Allison Ward (Rockland, Maine/Oceanside). With Hughes screened Pratt knocked the ball to the far side of the net for the win. The goal is Pratt's 10th of her career.
The Valiants took a 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes of play getting goals from junior Rylee McGuire (Grantham, N.H./Lebanon) at 3:49 and graduate student Kristen Savage (Harrington Park, N.J./Old Tappan) at 19:36. McGuire converted a penalty corner set-up from sophomore Bergje Smits (Bussum, Netherlands/Willen de Zwigger College). Savage picked up her first marker of the season after carrying the ball up the right side and beating USM rookie goaltender Angela Porrazzo (Attleboro, Mass.).
Southern Maine cut the margin in half before halftime as senior Peyton Dostie (Standish, Maine/Bonny Eagle), last season's Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year, scored her first goal at 26:35. The goal is Dostie's 38th of her USM career and gives her 91 points. Dostie is now fourth in career points at USM, tied with former Regional All-American Renee Heath Towne (2000-2003). Dostie's 38 career goals are presently tied for third with former Regional All-American India Lowe (2006-2009).
The Huskies equalized at 55:32 as rookie Kaylie Andrews (Kittery, Maine/Traip Academy) knocked the ball past Hughes out of a scrum in front of the net.
Porrazzo stopped six shots to earn her first collegiate victory. Hughes kicked out four shots. Southern Maine had a 14-8 edge in shots and a 7-6 advantage in penalty corners.
Manhattanville (0-1) will face Husson University (0-0) on Saturday (11:00 a.m.) in the second round of the USM Invitational. USM (1-0) will take on Husson on Sunday (11:00 a.m.) in the final game of the three-team, round robin tournament.
-30-
