Southern Maine Shuts Out UMaine Farmington 2-0

            PORTLAND, Maine -- The University of Southern Maine Huskies men's soccer team scored once in each half to defeat the visiting University of Maine at Farmington Beavers 2-0 in non-conference action Thursday evening at Memorial Field.  The match was originally scheduled for September 30, but was postponed due to weather.

            The win snapped a long winless skid (11 games) for the Huskies, and improved their overall record to 2-11-1.  The Beavers fell to 5-9-2 with their third loss in the last four games.

            Southern Maine took the lead in the third minute of play as junior Jay McStowe (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) got his head on a cross from the right side by rookie Ahmed Adnan (Portland, Maine/Casco Bay) 15 yards out from goal and put a shot over out-stretched UMF freshman goalkeeper Chandler Bridge (Wells, Maine).  The goal was the first of the season for McStowe.

            McStowe's goal would prove to be the only score of the opening 45 minutes.  Southern Maine had an edge in shots (7-4) and corner kicks (5-0), but could not test Bridge.

            The intensity picked up in the second half as USM looked for an insurance goal, and UMF pressed for an equalizer.  UMF had some dangerous situations, but never really tested USM rookie keeper Simon Hulbert (Bar Harbor, Maine/MDI).  Hulbert would record four saves to earn his second shutout of the season.

            USM had a good scoring opportunity on a corner kick cleared off the line by UMF freshman Tristan Price (Moultonborough, N.H.) in the 81st minute.  The ball was played into the mixer before a USM player got his foot on the ball, but Price stood his ground and cleared the shot away from danger.

            The Huskies finally got their insurance goal in the 85th minute.  Adnan took a corner that was blocked by the UMF defense, but the carom came right back out to Adnan who served a second ball to the back post.  Sophomore Justin Pierce (Standish, Maine) got his chest on the cross to redirect it into the net for his first goal of the season.

            Southern Maine finished the game with a 15-13 edge in shots, and a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks.  Bridge finished the match with two saves.

            The Huskies head to Danbury, Conn., this weekend for a Little East Conference match at Western Connecticut State University on Saturday (1:00 p.m.).  UMaine Farmington hosts Lyndon State College for Senior Day on Saturday (2:30 p.m.).