Huskies Travel to Endicott on Saturday (3 p.m.)

            GORHAM, Maine -- Three different players scored goals and junior goalie Julia Benjamin (Tolland, Conn.) stopped 22 shots as the visiting University of New England Nor'easters shut out the University of Southern Maine Huskies 3-0 in the teams' season-opening game Friday afternoon at the USM Ice Arena.

            The two sides skated through a scoreless first period with the Nor'easters compiling a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal.  USM senior goalie Whitney Padgett (Eden Prairie, Minn.) had the best save of the period when she stopped rookie McKenna Remillard (Fairfield, Vt.) in tight.

            UNE took advantage of a second-period power play to go up 1-0 at 8:25.  Senior Tatum Gietl (Littleton, Colo.) chipped a centering pass from the right-wing board by junior Jessica Tolzman (Apex, N.C.) over Padgett and into the roof of the net.  Rookie Abbi Charvat (Buffalo, N.Y.) picked up the second assist.

            Just over six minutes later, the Nor'easters doubled their lead as sophomore Jenna Pych (West Milford, N.J.) fired home a shot inside the near post from the top of the right-wing circle.  Sophomores Beth Crugnale (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Meghan Hamilton (Rutland, Vt.) picked up the assists after doing the heavy work along the boards.

            Crugnale tallied the final goal of the game at 6:03 of the third period while sprawled on the ice near the right post.  The second-year forward swept in a pass coming through the crease from Remillard at the left post.  Remillard was also credited with an assist.

            The Huskies put some pressure on in the third period looking to get on the scoreboard putting 13 shots on net.  Benjamin held her ground however to earn her fourth career shutout.

            Padgett finished her day's work with 22 saves for USM.  UNE had a 25-22 edge in shots on goal, and went 1 for 3 on the power play while killing off all six USM advantages.

            Southern Maine is back in action tomorrow afternoon (3 p.m.) when it travels to Endicott College for a non-conference game.  UNE is off until November 15th when it opens Colonial Hockey Conference play with a home-and-home series at Nichols College.

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