PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Catriona Gould (Freeport, Maine) knocked in the game-winning goal in the final minutes to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 1-0 win over the Plymouth State University Panthers in a Little East Conference women's soccer game Wednesday afternoon at Arold Field.
With the result, Southern Maine extends its win-streak to nine games and improves to 12-1 overall and remains undefeated in the Little East Conference at 5-0. Plymouth State falls to 5-6-2 overall and 1-2-3 in the LEC. Facing each other for the 38
th time in series history, Southern Maine has won the last two consecutively over the Panthers. PSU leads the series 25-12-1.
The Records:
Southern Maine (12-1-0, 5-0 LEC)
Plymouth State (5-6-2, 1-2-3 LEC)
How It Happened:
- After a foul just outside of the box, Southern Maine was awarded a free kick. Graduate student Gaby Panagakos (Scarborough, Maine) sent in a well-placed ball to the far side of the goal, and sophomore Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine) tapped the ball across to a wide-open Gould for the game-winner in the 87th minute.
- PSU had several good chances on frame but were unable to breakthrough Husky junior goalkeeper Breanna Atwood (Franklin, Mass.). Panther's Ashley Plante had a shot to the lower, left corner at nearly point blank range, but Atwood was able to get down and make the save to keep the game at 0-0. Atwood finished with nine saves in the game.
- The Huskies were outshot 10-7 in the first half, but bounced back to outshoot PSU 10-4 in the second half. PSU goalkeeper Elena Register made eight saves, including a spectacular save in the closing moments to prevent a 2-0 score on a close-range shot from graduate student Ciera Berthiaume (Windham, Maine) in the 89th minute.
The Goalkeepers:
SM, Breanna Atwood (11-1), 90:00, 0 GA, 9 Saves
PSU, Elena Rigster (1-3-3), 90:00, 1 GA, 8 Saves
Inside The Stats:
- Gould's 13 goals and five assists leads the Little East Conference with 31 points. Her 13 goals are also atop the LEC statistical rankings. She is presently second in USM single-season records for goals in a season.
- Atwood's shutout is the eighth of the season for the Huskies' junior. She is tied for second in single-season shutouts with 2022 Husky Hall of Fame inductee Samantha Whitman '01, who had eight shutouts in the 1998 season. The Huskies' record for shutouts in a career is 19, and is also held by Whitman (1997-2000). Atwood has 12 shutouts to her credit in 28 career games.
Up Next:
The Huskies remain on the road Saturday (1:00 pm) at LEC opponent Rhode Island College (1:00 pm). Southern Maine hosts non-conference opponent Maine Maritime Academy on Tuesday (6:00 pm) in its next home game.
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