Huskies Host Plymouth State on Friday for Senior Day

            GORHAM, Maine -- Sophomore goalie Jessica Thulin (North Reading, Mass.) stopped 23 shots to record her third career shutout as the visiting Colby College Mules defeated the University of Southern Maine Huskies 3-0 in a non-conference women's game Tuesday evening at the USM Ice Arena.

            The win snapped a nine-game losing stretch that included five one-goal losses for the Mules.  The game was the regular season finale for Colby, which ends the season 6-15-3 overall.  The Huskies dropped their third in a row to slide to 3-18-2 overall.

            Thulin, making her third start of the season, was particularly strong in the wide-open middle period stopping 11 shots.  She turned aside seven more in the third period protecting a two-goal lead until junior Delaney Flynn (Scituate, Mass.) scored an empty-net goal with 1:49 to play to ice the decision.

            After a scoreless first period that featured six minor penalties, Colby jumped on top just before the eight-minute mark of the second period.  The Mules' forecheck forced a turnover deep in the Huskies end where sophomore Meredith Keenan (Sherman, Conn.) picked up the puck and beat USM rookie goaltender Britney Evangelista (North Smithfield, R.I.) for her first career goal.

            Just over two minutes later, sophomore Bella Papapetros (North Andover, Mass.) made it 2-0 for the visitors as she deposited the rebound of classmate Sasha Fritts (Darien, Conn.) shot behind Evangelista.  Evangelista stopped Fritts initial shot from 30 feet out, but the rebound went right to Papapetros and she fired home her eighth goal of the season.

            Colby compiled a 31-23 edge in shots on goal, including a 15-11 margin in the second period.  Evangelista finished her night's work with 28 saves.  Both teams went 0 for 4 on the power play.  Flynn finished with a goal and an assist, and Fritts had two assists for Colby.

            Southern Maine heads into the final weekend of its regular season to host Plymouth State University on Friday (4:00 p.m.) for Senior Day.  USM closes the season on the road on Saturday 7:00 p.m.) at Franklin Pierce University  Both games are New England Hockey Conference contests. 

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