SALEM, Mass. – Juniors Tayla Smedberg (Oxford, Maine/Oxford Hills) and Kaylie Andrews (Kittery, Maine) each had two goals to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 7-0 shut out win over the Salem State University Vikings in a Little East Conference field hockey game Tuesday night at Alumni Field.

The win is the second straight for the Huskies, and their second straight victory by shut out.  Southern Maine is now 7-8 overall and 6-3 in the Little East Conference.  Salem State drops to 1-10 on the season, and 0-8 in the LEC.

Smedberg finished with two goals and two assists to lead the Huskies with six points, while Andrews' first goal of the game was the game-winner, marking her first multi-goal game of the season. Senior Jennifer Poulin (Winslow, Maine) added a goal and an assist, while junior Lindsay Jackson (Readfield, Maine/Maranacook) and Makayla Garvin (Springvale, Maine/Sanford) each scored goals. 

After battling through a scoreless 23 minutes of action, with USM holding a slight 4-3 lead in shots, the Huskies' broke through for their first goal of the game at 23:44 on an unassisted Andrews' tally.  Just over a minute later, Southern Maine doubled its lead when Garvin completed an assist from Poulin at 24:57. The Huskies made it 3-0 before the halftime break as Andrews and Smedberg connected for a goal with Andrews tucking in the shot off of a Smedberg assist at 32:20.

Southern Maine wasted little time in the second half and jumped out to a 6-0 lead with a goal from Poulin (37:29) and back-to-back scores from Smedberg (38:33, 40:03).  Junior Kaitlin Hilton (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) assisted on Smedberg's second goal. Southern Maine scored its final goal of the game at 50:10 when Jackson scored on an unassisted strike for the 7-0 final.

Southern Maine freshman goalkeeper Elizabeth Amadei (Falmouth, Maine) made one save in goal to earn her second straight shut out victory.  Salem State senior Carolyn Woodin (Arlington, Mass.) took the loss making six saves and allowing four goals in 54:50 of action before giving way to back up freshman Gabriella Cerro (Beverly, Mass.).  Cerro played the final 15:10, making one save and allowing three goals.

Southern Maine remains on the road for its next contest and will travel to Worcester State on Saturday (11:00 a.m.) for a Little East Conference game.  Salem State travels to Fitchburg State for an LEC contest on Saturday (6:00 p.m.).

–cac–