PLYMOUTH, N.H. –  Sophomore Sage Drinkwater (Steep Falls, Maine/Bonny Eagle) scored the equalizer with eight seconds remaining in regulation and junior Chloe Arsenault (Boothbay, Maine/Boothbay Region) scored the game-winning goal in overtime to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a thrilling 4-3 win over the Plymouth State University Panthers in a Little East Conference field hockey game Tuesday night at Panther Field.
 
Facing each other for the 57^th time in series history, the Huskies have now won the last four games consecutively over the Panthers. PSU leads the overall series 35-19-3. 
 
The win secures the 2022 Little East Conference Regular Season Championship for the Huskies and the number one seed in the upcoming Little East Conference Tournament Championship.  The Huskies will host a first-round game on Tuesday. Opponent and time to be determined.
 
The Records:
Southern Maine (13-6, 10-2 LEC)
Plymouth State (10-5, 8-3 LEC)
 
How It Happened:

• After a scoreless first quarter, PSU's Jenna Stowell struck first to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.  PSU held its one-goal advantage until late in the second when Arsenault knocked in her seventh goal of the season in the 26^th minutes off of an assist from senior Samantha Ellis (New Vineyard, Maine/Mt. Blue). 
• The Panthers answered right back however scoring a go-ahead goal 30 seconds later Caroline Coleman completed an assist from Athena Comeau. PSU made it a two-goal advantage 90 seconds later as Taylor Healey scored her 22^nd goal of the season in the 29^th minute off of an assist from Alessia Salzillo for a 3-1 Panther advantage headed into the half.  
• Southern Maine remained two goals down until the final minutes of the third when junior Brooke Carson (Bryant Pond, Maine/Oxford Hills) scored her 13^th goal of the season off of an assist from Arsenault in the 43^rd minute giving the Huskies some life.
• USM continued to pressure in the fourth but remained a goal down, 3-2, as time wound down.  The Huskies were awarded a penalty corner with 16 seconds remaining in regulation, and Drinkwater took advantage scoring her team-leading 15^th goal of the season at the 59:52 mark off of an assist from

 
The Goalkeepers:
SM, Julianna Kiklis (7-4), 66:15, 3 GA, 9 Saves
PSU, Kayla Antonucci (4-4) 66:15, 4 GA, 14 Saves
 
Inside The Statistics:

• The Huskies' 2022 LEC Regular Season title is the first in program history. USM has never finished higher than no. 2 in the regular season standings. 

Up Next:
Southern Maine hosts Endicott College on Thursday (7:00 pm) in its final regular season contest of 2022.  The Huskies will then begin preparation for the upcoming 2022 Little East Tournament, which begins on Tuesday, November 1.  Opponent, seeding and time will be determined in the future.