Box Score GORHAM, Maine – Sophomore Courtney Smith (Peabody, Mass./Peabody Veterans Memorial) and senior Kelsey Russell (Arlington, Mass.) each had a goal and an assist to lead the Salem State University Vikings to a 2-1 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East Conference field hockey game Tuesday afternoon at Hannaford Field.
With the win, Salem State snaps an eight-game losing streak to improve to 3-11 overall and earn its first Little East Conference win of the season to stand at 1-8. Southern Maine drops to 6-11 and 3-6 in the conference.
Salem State struck first scoring late in the first half as Smith scored her fourth goal of the season, powering in a shot in the 29th minute off of a feed from Russell. Southern Maine rallied to score the equalizer just before halftime as junior Kyrstyn Keating (Freedom, Maine/Mt. View) notched her third goal of the season on a hustle play to convert an assist from classmate Samantha Crosman (South Berwick, Maine/Marshwood) in the 33rd minute.
Locked at 1-1, Salem State came out the victor despite being outshot 6-3 in the second half. This time Russell was the goal-scorer for the Vikings redirecting a centering pass from Smith in the 57th minute. The Huskies had a few solid scoring opportunities in the final 13 minutes of action but were unable to find the back of the net. Freshman Dorina Sirois (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) and sophomore Tayla Smedberg (Oxford, Maine/Oxford Hills) each had terrific attempts in the circle, but Viking goalkeeper junior Carolyn Woodin (Arlington, Mass.) was up to the task to preserve the win.
Woodin finished the game making 11 saves in the victory. USM junior goalkeeper Amanda Kasbohm (York, Maine) made five saves in the loss. Junior Leanne Reichert (Portland, Maine) had a defensive save for USM.
Southern Maine returns to action on Thursday (3:00 p.m.) when it hosts Bates College in a non-conference contest. Salem State hosts Fitchburg State in an LEC game on Saturday (12:00 p.m.)
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