CASTLETON, Vermont   –  Senior Brooke Carson (Bryant Pond, Maine/Oxford Hills) scored twice in the second quarter, including the game-deciding goal, to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 4-1 win over the VTSU-Castleton Spartans in a Little East Conference field hockey game Saturday afternoon at Dave Wolk Stadium. 
 
In the midst of a five-game road swing, Southern Maine has gone 4-0 so far as the visiting team, including a trio of conference wins.  The Huskies are 5-0 in Little East Conference action in 2023, and today's victory claimed the 2023 Little East Conference Regular Season Title and secured the top seed in the upcoming LEC Championship Tournament. USM will host a semifinal game on November 2 (time and opponent TBA).   
 
The Records:
Southern Maine (12-6, 5-0 Little East)
VTSU – Castleton (8-6, 1-2 Little East)
 
Today's game marked the seventh meeting between the University of Southern Maine Huskies and the Vermont State University – Castleton Spartans.  Southern Maine leads the overall series 5-2. The Spartans had won the last two meeting, defeating the Huskies during the 2022 regular season 4-3 in overtime, and 2-1 in the Little East Conference Championship game.
 
How It Happened:

• Junior Abigail Chartier (Lewiston, Maine) put the Huskies on the board early, scoring her ninth goal of the season with just 1:06 gone in the game. 
• Castleton's Emily Harris tied the score up at 1-1 before the first quarter expired completing an assist from Peyton Richardson for her LEC-leading 39^th goal of the season in the 14^th minute.
• Outshooting the Spartans 6-1 in the second quarter, Carson put the Huskies ahead for good in the 20^th minute scoring her ninth goal of the season off of an assist from junior Sage Drinkwater (Steep Falls, Maine/Bonny Eagle) , and then extended the Southern Maine advantage to 3-1 with 25 seconds remaining before the halftime break on another assist from Drinkwater.
• After a scoreless third, Drinkwater slammed the door shut on the Spartans late in the fourth quarter, scoring her team-leading 11^th goal of the season in the 58^th minute.  Drinkwater was assisted by freshman Norie Tibbets (Skowhegan, Maine) and senior Hannah Banks (Belfast, Maine) on the goal.

 
 
The Goalkeepers:
SM, Eleanor Folsom (11-6) 30:00, 1 GA, 0 saves; Julianna Kiklis, 30:00, 0 GA, 1 Saves
CU, Hannah Frittenburg, 15:00, 1 GA, 1 save; Zoe Martin (8-6), 3 GA, 6 saves
 
Inside The Statistics:

• With a goal and two assists today, Drinkwater has 11 goals, and seven assists this season for 25 points.  She has 37 goals and 17 assists for 91 points in her career (63 games).  Drinkwater is tied for sixth in career goals, and is fourth in career assists.  Her 91 points are tied for tied for sixth in Husky career records.
• With two goals in today's game, Carson has 10 goals and five assists for 25 points this season. Three of her 10 goals have been game-winning goals.  For her career (61 games), Carson has 35 goals and 13 assists for 83 points. She is in the top 10 for career goals, and points.
• Tibbets has recorded a point in each of the Huskies' last four games. She has eight goals and three assists this season.
• Junior Izzy Hurlburt (Alfred, Maine/Massabesic) had a defensive save in the game for the Huskies.

 
Up Next:
Southern Maine remains on the road at Wheaton College (Mass.) for a non-conference game on Tuesday (7:00 pm).  The Huskies return home for their final regular season Little East Conference game against Western Connecticut State University on Saturday (12:00 pm). 
 
           
 
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