GORHAM, Maine –  Senior Ciera Berthiaume (Windham, Maine) recorded a brace, as four different players scored, to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 5-0 season-opening win over the Thomas College Terriers in a non-conference women's soccer game Wednesday night at Hannaford Field. Berthiaume's two goals gives her 26 for her career.  She is tied for second in USM career records with former USM standout Liz Brunton '05.

With the win, Southern Maine kicks off its 2021 season at 1-0, while the Terriers start 2021 at 0-1.  The Huskies are 9-0-0 in their series with Thomas. 
 
The Records:
Thomas (0-1-0)
Southern Maine (1-0-0)
 
How It Happened:

• USM stormed out of the gates early scoring in the opening minute as sophomore Catriona Gould (Freeport, Maine) notched her first collegiate goal. Gould received a through ball and used some solid foot work to work her way into the box to go one-on-one with the keeper.
• In the third minute, senior Elise Porter (Ballston Spa, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) made it 2-0 launching a shot from the right side and beating the keeper to the upper left corner. 
• Southern Maine led 3-0 in the fifth minute as Berthiaume scored her first goal of the game on a well-paced through ball from sophomore Kiaya Gatchell (Portland, Maine/Deering). 
• Despite pressuring for a fourth, USM's scoring took a break until the 71st minute.  Berthiaume scored her second goal of the game, finishing an assist from freshman Aly Veilleux (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Memorial). 
• Veillieux came through with her second assist of the game in the 72nd minute finding junior Emma Forgues (Gorham, Maine) on a run. Forgues' goal was the first of her Husky career.

 
Inside The Stats:

• Gould, Forgues and Gatchell each earned their first intercollegiate points.
• Southern Maine outshot Thomas 29-0; 17 in the first half and 12 in the second half.  
• USM sophomore Bre Atwood (Franklin, Mass.) did not make a save in the win, but played well off of her line and distributed the ball.  Atwood earned the start and played 73:15.  Freshman Hunter Stonebraker (Mont Vernon, NH) played the final 16:45 for the Huskies.
• Thomas played three goalkeepers.  Maddie Rock (Bridgton, Maine/Lake Region) played the first 45 making four saves and allowing three goals.  Freshman Isabelle Lang (Lincolnville, Maine/Camden Hills) played 23:06 making seven saves, and junior Lauren Bartlett (Wells, Maine) played the final 21:54 making one save and allowing two goals.

 
Up Next:
Southern Maine travels to UMaine Farmington on Friday (4:00 pm) for a non-conference game and remains on the road on Saturday (1:00 pm) taking on Husson University.  Thomas hosts University of New England on Friday (7:00 pm) in its next contest.