HARTFORD, Conn. - Imani Jenkins had three goals and an assist to lead the No. 20 University of Hartford Hawks to a 4-1 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a non-conference women's soccer match Wednesday night at Al-Marzook Field.
The loss is the first of the season for the Huskies, ending a program-record 16-game unbeaten streak (12-0-4). The 2023 Little East Conference regular season champions, Southern Maine is undefeated at home at Hannaford Field at 8-0, an d is 4-1-4 on the road so far this season.
The Records:
Southern Maine (12-1-4)
No. 20 Hartford (14-2)
Today's game marked the first meeting between the University of Southern Maine and the University of Hartford. Now transitioning into NCAA Division III competition from Division I, Hartford is a member of the Commonwealth Coast Conference, and is not eligible for championship competition this year.
How It Happened:
- Jenkins scored twice in the opening half to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead at halftime. Jenkins scored the first goal of the game in the 19th minute before scoring on a penalty kick in the 24th minute for the 2-0 lead. .
- Jenkins secured the hat trick early in the second half, scoring in the 46th minute.
- The Huskies got on the board in the 57th minute as senior Catriona Gould (Freeport, Maine) scored her team-leading 12th goal of the season. Gould was assisted on the play by sophomore Riley Reitchel (Palermo, Maine/Erskine Academy). Gould's goal snapped the Hawks' four-game shutout streak. Prior to Gould's marker, the Hawks had held their opponents scoreless for 433 minutes.
- UH scored one more in the 89th minute for the 4-1 final.
The Goalkeepers:
SM,
Breanna Atwood (12-1-4), 90:00, 4 GA, 3 Saves
UH, Sejal Johnson (13-1), 90:00, 1 GA, 4 Saves
Inside The Stats:
- Reitchel's assist is her team-leading eighth of 2023. The Huskies' sophomore has five goals and eight assists for 18 points this season. The assist is Reitchel's 10th of her career.
- Gould's goal marked the 41st of her career. She has 41 goals, 13 assists and 95 points. Gould is second in career scoring for the Huskies behind Ciera Berthiaume's (2018-19, 2021-22) 43 goals. Her 13 assists are tied for fourth in USM records, while her 95 points are second all-time behind Berthiaume's (106 points, 43 g – 20 a).
Up Next:
The Huskies complete the regular season on the road at Vermont State University – Castleton on Saturday, October 28 (12:00 pm) in Little East Conference action. The 2023 Little East Conference Championship Tournament begins on Tuesday, October 31. As the 2023 Regular Season Champion USM is the top seed and will have a bye and host a semifinal game on November 2 (time and opponent TBA).
-cac-
