GORHAM, Maine   -  Senior Catriona Gould (Freeport, Maine) scored a hat trick in the opening 24 minutes of the game and the University of Southern Maine Huskies rolled to a 6-1 win over the Plymouth State University Panthers in a Little East Conference women's soccer game Wednesday night at Hannaford Field.
 
Unbeaten at 8-0-1, the Huskies have won five straight after battling to a 1-1 draw with no. 24 (United Soccer Coaches) University of New England.
 
The Records:
Plymouth State (1-5-2, 0-3 Little East)
Southern Maine (8-0-1, 3-0 Little East)
 
Today's game marks the 39^th meeting between the University of Southern Maine and Plymouth State University.  In the last five meetings, Southern Maine is 4-1 against Plymouth State earning a 1-0 victory on the road in 2022.  Plymouth State leads the overall series 25-13-1.
 
How It Happened:

•  Gould scored the first of her three goals of the opening half in the fourth minute, tapping in a close range shot after an outstanding service from senior Kiaya Gatchell (Portland, Maine/Deering) that found the head of junior Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine). McKenna received the ball and played it to Gould wide open in front of the box.
• The Huskies went up 2-0 in the 12th minute on another goal from Gould.  Sophomore Riley Reitchel (Palermo, Maine/Erskine Academy) put in a solid effort carrying the ball down the right side of the field, before sending in a looping cross over the outstretched arms of PSU goalkeeper Drea Oswel and onto the foot of Gould at the back post.
• Gould made it a hat trick in the 24^th minute finishing an assist from senior Eliza Roy (Camden, Maine/Camden Hills). 
• The Huskies went up 4-0 before the half as senior Ashley Sabatino (Scarborough, Maine) turned her defender and laced a shot to the top right bin in the 30^th minute.  The goal is Sabatino's third of the season.
• In the second half, Roy got in on the scoring action collecting a bounding ball in the box and connecting for her fourth goal of 2023, before sophomore Bridgette Toland (Jamestown, R.I./North Kingstown) made it 6-0 in favor the Huskies, volleying in another assist from Reitchel in the 62^nd minute.
• PSU erased the shutout bid late as McKayla Palhof scored on a deflected shot after a feet in the 18 from Kailana Palhof.

 
 
The Goalkeepers:
PSU, Drea Oswel (0-3-1), 45:00, 4 GA, 2 saves; Sydney Rowe (45:00), 2 GA, 3 saves
SM, Breanna Atwood (8-0-1), 90:00, 1 GA, 2 saves
 
Inside The Stats:

• Gould's hat trick is the second of her career. The Huskies' forward had three goals in a 6-2 win over Lesley University on October 5, 2022.  Gould now has six goals this season and 35 in her career.  Setting the single-season record for goals in 2022 with 20, Gould has 35 career goals and is eight shy of tying the Huskies' career record of 43 set by Ciera Berthiaume in 2022.
• With two assists in today's game, Reitchel has a team-leading five on the season.  Junior Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine) has four in 2023 after tonight's assist.
• The Huskies have outscored their opponents 28-5 this season. Senior Breanna Atwood (Franklin, Mass.) has an outstanding 0.58 goals against average and a .907 save percentage this season.
• Southern Maine is undefeated at 5-0 at home this season.  The Huskies are 3-0-1 on the road.

 
Up Next:
The Huskies host non-conference opponent UMaine Farmington on Saturday (12:00 pm) before a Sunday (4:00 pm) matchup at Bates College in non-conference action. The Huskies remain on the road on for a non-conference match up at Brandeis on Wednesday, October 4 (4:00).  USM's next conference game is against Rhode Island College at  home on Saturday, October 7 (3:00 pm).