WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Kate Colvin (Winchester, Mass./Governor's Academy) scored four goals and Kiaya Gatchell (Portland, Maine/Deering) added three assists as the University of Southern Maine Huskies picked up a crucial 11-9 conference win over the Eastern Connecticut State Warriors in Willimantic on Saturday afternoon. 

When and Where: Saturday, April 9 – Eastern Connecticut State University – Rick McCarthy Field

Score: Southern Maine 11, Eastern Connecticut State 9

History: This was the 27th matchup between the two teams. The Warriors now lead the series 18-9.

The Records: Southern Maine: 8-3, 2-0 LEC ; Eatern Connecticut: 5-4, 0-2 LEC

The Goaltenders: 
Southern Maine: 
Cece Racine (Lewiston, Maine/Lewiston): twelve saves, .521 save percentage

Eastern Connecticut State:
Emma Alford (West Hartford, Conn.): five saves, .313 save percentage


How It Happened/Inside the Box Score: 
-The first quarter was dominated by the Huskies as Southern Maine scored five goals in a row. Colvin and Jennifer Darasz (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) each scored two goals and Rachel Shanks (Naples, Maine/Lake Region) added one.

-Chloe Miller (Avon, Conn.) added her first of five goals at the end of the first quarter to bring the score to 5-1 in favor of the Huskies.

-The Warriors began to climb back in the second quarter, tacking on three goals. Miller scored twice and Shay Ventresca (Oakdale, Conn.) added her lone goal of the game. Darasz and Jillian Nichols (Gorham, Maine/Gorham) each scored to bring the score to 7-4 at the half.

-Gatchell scored 12 seconds into the second half to set the tone for Southern Maine. Shanks and Colvin followed up with one and two goals, respectively. Eastern Connecticut added three goals of their own; one from Miller, and one from both Kaylee Drobish (Wallingford, Conn.) and Caroline Stent (Weatogue, Conn.).

-The Warriors made a final push in the fourth quarter with Stent and Miller scoring again, but the Huskies' defense and Racine stood tall to earn an 11-9 win. 

-Southern Maine collected 18 ground balls to the Warriors' 17 and went 19-for-25 on clear attempts. 

-Rhiannon McQuaide (Wells, Maine/Wells) led the Huskies' defense with three ground balls and one caused turnover. 

-With the win, the Huskies are 2-0 in Little East play and are tied for first place in the conference.

Up Next: The Huskies are back in action on Saturday, April 16 as they host UMass-Dartmouth in a Little East Conference game at 1pm on Hannaford Field.