BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Seniors Michaela Demers (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Memorial) and Kyrstyn Keating (Freedom, Maine/Mount View) each scored goals to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 2-1 win over the Bridgewater State University Bears in a Little East Conference field hockey game Thursday night.

The win is the first of the season for the Huskies who stand at 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the Little East.  Bridgewater State suffers its first setback of the season and drops to 2-1 and 0-1 in the conference.

After a scoreless first half, Demers scored her first goal of the season to put the Huskies' up 1-0 in the 39th minute.  Demers' goal came after the Huskies' were awarded a penalty stroke.  Southern Maine's lead was short-lived however as BSU sophomore Samantha Hayes (Norwood, Mass.) scored her team-leading fourth goal of the season on a strong individual effort inside the circle.

The score remained knotted at one goal each before Keating scored her first goal of the season and the first game-winner of her career to put USM up 2-1 in the 44th minute.  After winning the ball in the midfield, Keating pushed the ball out wide to junior Tayla Smedberg (Oxford, Maine/Oxford Hills).  Smedberg then used her speed to carry the ball down the sideline before sending a centering pass back to Keating, who calmly struck the ball to the right side of the cage to beat BSU goalkeeper Allison Chappell (Raynham, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham Regional).  BSU had several opportunities to tie the game up in the closing minutes, including three consecutive penalty corners - two with no time left on the clock – but the Huskies were able to make the 2-1 result stand.  

Statistically, both teams were fairly even with USM holding a 14-13 lead in shots, and BSU holding a 9-6 edge in penalty corners.  Chappell made six saves in the loss for the Bears, while senior Amanda Kasbohm (York, Maine) turned back four shots to earn the win for Southern Maine. 

            Southern Maine returns to action at home on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) and will host Eastern Connecticut State in a Little East Conference game.  Bridgewater State travels to Westfield State on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) for a LEC match up.

–cac–