GORHAM, Maine    -  Senior Julia McKenna (Windham, Maine) recorded a first-half brace and the University of Southern Maine Huskies defeated the UMass Boston Beacons 5-1 in a battle of Little East Conference women's soccer unbeaten teams Wednesday night at Hannaford Field.
 
McKenna's brace, and goals from freshman Makyla Magid (Golden, Colo.) and junior Kadynne Smith (Biddeford, Maine) gave the Huskies a commanding 4-0 lead at the half, moving Southern Maine to 5-0 in the conference.
 
The Records:
UMass Boston (9-3-3, 4-1 LEC)
Southern Maine (10-2-2, 5-0 LEC)
 
Tonight's game marked the 31st meeting between the UMass Boston Beacons and the University of Southern Maine Huskies. Southern Maine leads the overall series 17-13-1, and earned a 0-0 draw in the 2023 regular season, and a 3-0 win over the Beacons in the 2023 LEC tournament semifinal.
 
How It Happened:

• McKenna started the scoring for the Huskies in the 12^th minute rocketing in a loose ball for a 1-0 lead and her eighth goal of the season.  Moments later, McKenna nearly had her second goal of the game when an attempt from the left side ricocheted off of the cross bar in the 19^th minute.
• Racking up 15 first-half shots, the Huskies maintained pressure on the Beacon defense but remained ahead by just one goal until the final five minutes of the half.  Entering the game in the 31^st minute, freshman Makyla Magid (Golden, Colo./Lakewood) struck from distance for her sixth goal of the season in the 40^th minute after receiving a well-played ball in from classmate Meghan Przybilla (St. Anthony, Minn./St. Anthony Village).
• Almost immediately after kickoff, the Huskies pushed its lead to 3-0 when McKenna struck for a brace in the 41^st minute. Freshman Madi Sainis (Pierrefonds, Quebec/Saint Thomas) carried the ball down the left side before finding McKenna with a cross for the goal and assist.
• The Huskies made it 4-0 just before half when junior Kadynne Smith (Biddeford, Maine) buried a long-distance strike in the 43^rd minute beating Beacon starter Julia Cote to the upper left corner for her second goal of the season.
• The Beacons broke up the shutout bid in the 60^th minute when Sofia Schallmo ran onto a ball played in over the top from Amanda Regan, but USM regained its four-goal lead in the 79tj minute when senior Aly Veilleux (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Memorial) ran onto through ball, and then took a touch around an on-rushing Beacon goalkeeper Isabella O'Connell and struck to the far post for her second goal of the season for the 5-1 final.

 
The Goalkeepers:
UMB, Julia Cote (7-1-2), 45:00, 4 GA, 6 saves; Isabella O'Connell, 45:0, 1 GA, 4 saves
SM, Hunter Stonebraker (6-1-2), 90:00, 1 GA, 5 Saves
 
Inside The Stats:

• Southern Maine led in shots 22-8, and corner kicks 42.  The Huskies had a 15-6 advantage in shots on goal.
• Magid's goal is her sixth of the season, and is the first game-winning goal of her career. She has six goals and two assists for 14 points so far in her rookie campaign
• McKenna's brace puts her at nine goals for the season. She now has 30 goals and 11 assists in her career for 71 points. She is third all-time in goals scored, and ninth career assists. Her 71 points are fourth all-time.
• The Huskies have outscored their opponents 56-15 through 14 games, and have outscored their Little East Conference opponents 21-4 in five games.

 
Up Next:
Southern Maine remains at home for its next two contests, hosting Keene State on Saturday, October 19 (3:00 pm) before hosting Bates College in a non-conference game on Wednesday, October 23 (7:00 pm). 
           
 
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