GORHAM, Maine – Senior
Brooke Carson (Bryant Pond, Maine/Oxford Hills) had two goals and an assist, including the game-winner in overtime, to lead the University of Southern Maine Huskies to a 3-2 win over the Husson University Eagles Tuesday night in a non-conference field hockey game at Hannaford Field.
The Huskies are 5-0 at home this season, and have won three straight. Southern Maine has outscored its opponents 20-5 at Hannaford Field so far in 2023.
The Records:
Husson (1-2)
Southern Maine (6-2-0)
Tonight's game marked the seventh meeting between the University of Southern Maine and the Husson University Eagles. Husson leads the series 4-3 and defeated the Huskies 2-0 in 2022. The Huskies previously defeated Husson 4-1 at home in 2021. Carson also had two goals in the 2021 victory.
How It Happened:
- Carson opened the scoring in the 12th minute on a dramatic diving play to score her sixth goal of the season. Carson laid out on the far side of the cage to redirect a pass in from junior Abigail Chartier (Lewiston, Maine).
- Sophomore goalkeeper Eleanor Folsom (Winthrop, Maine) turned in a strong first half performance to make Carson's goal stand through the half.
- Husson tied the game up in the 36th minute when Karlie Ramsdell pushed in a goal to the near side following an Eagle penalty corner. Moments before the corner, Folsom was sent off for a two-minute penalty for an equipment issue and first-year Lainey Bell (Winthrop, Maine) replaced Folsom for the spell.
- The score remained at 1-1 through the third before junior Sage Drinkwater (Steep Falls, Maine/Bonny Eagle) put the Huskies ahead 2-1 in the 51st minute off of a centering pass from Carson.
- Husson answered right back four minutes later in the 55th minute, pressuring the Huskies' defense and earning a penalty stroke. Eagle Tessa Capozzoli powered her shot to the left side of Folsom for the equalizer. Folsom got a stick to the shot, but Capozzoli's power kept the ball's momentum.
- Neither team was able to score in the final five minutes of regulation setting up the overtime period. Going 7-v-7 to start the sudden victory extra frame, Husson had the first to quality attempts, including a shot from Teagan Blackie that was turned aside by Folsom.
- Drinkwater put a shot on frame, eventually leading to a Husky penalty corner. After the penalty corner was played in and around the circle, Keef sent a ball in towards Carson. Carson's first shot was stuffed by Goddard before Carson collected her own rebound and backhanded in the game-winner.
The Goalkeepers:
HU, Kimmie Goddard (1-2), 64:35, 3 GA, 7 saves
SM,
Eleanor Folsom (6-2), 62:26, 1 GA, 9 saves;
Lainey Bell, 2:09, 1 GA, 0 Saves
Inside The Statistics:
- The Huskies are 5-0 at home this season and have outscored their opponents 20-4 at Hannaford Field.
- Carson's game-winning goal is her team-leading seventh of the season. She has seven goals and two assists for a team-best 16 points. Carson has 32 goals, 10 assists and 74 points in her career. Her 32 goals are ninth all-time in program history, while her 10 assists are tied for 21st. Her 74 points are eighth all-time.
- Drinkwater now has 29 goals, 12 assists and 70 points in her career. Her 12 assists are 14th all-time, while her 29 goals are just behind Carson in a three-way tie for 10th. Her 70 points are 10th.
- Cummings, the 2022 Little East Conference Defensive Player of the Year, earned her second defensive save of the season, and now has 12 in her career.
- Folsom's nine saves are a season high for the sophomore. She is now 11-4 in her career.
Up Next:
Southern Maine travels to Western New England on Saturday (1:00 pm) and Johnson & Wales on Sunday (2:00 pm) for a pair of non-conference games. The Huskies are back at home on Tuesday, September 26 (7:00 pm) against Endicott College before opening their Little East Conference schedule at home against Keene State (3:00 pm). The Huskies will be honoring the 20
th anniversary of their 2003 Little East Conference Championship team during the game.
-cac-
